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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
In 2022 with funding from 
Princeton Theological Seminary Library 


https://archive.org/details/centenarytransla00unse 


CENTENARY TRANSLATION 
OF THE 
NEW TESTAMENT os. 


f” \ 


JAIN 





PUBLISHED TO SIGNALIZE THE COMPEETION OF 
THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF WORK OF 
THE AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY 


TRANSLATED BY 


HELEN BARRETT MONTGOMERY 
A. M., D. H. L., LL. D. 


PHILADELPHIA 


THE AMERICAN BAPTIST 
PUBLICATION SOCIETY 


BOSTON CHICAGO LOS ANGELES 
KANSAS CITY SEATTLE TORONTO 





Copyright, 1924, by 
THE AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY 





Published February, 1924 


PrInTED IN U.S.A. 


DEDICATED TO 


THE AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY 
AND,.TO THE SUPR BME TAS KS.0OF 
CIRCULATING THE SCRIPTURES 
TO!WHICH IT’HAS SETITS HAND 


Send forth thy light and thy truth; 
Let them lead me. 


INTRODUCTION 


THE aims of the author in adding one more to the 
number of translations of the New Testament are: 


1. To offer a translation in the language of every- 
day life, that does not depart too much from the trans- 
lations already familiar and beloved. 


2. To retain the customary division into chapters, 
even though this is not justified on grounds of strict 
scholarship; and still further to name the chapters, as 
an aid to remembering the contents of each book. 


3. To provide paragraph headings as an aid to find- 
ing a desired passage, and as a further help in memo- 
rizing the events as they are recorded. 


4. To use every aid of typography to indicate dia- 
logue, quotation, and other elements of the narrative. 


5. To make a translation chiefly designed for the 
ordinary reader, intended to remove the veil that a 
literary or formal translation inevitably puts between 
the reader of only average education and the meaning 
of the text. 


6. Through the publication of the translation at a 
low price, and in a form easy to be carried in the 
pocket or in a hand-bag, to stimulate the daily reading 
of the Gospels. 


7. To signalize the completion of a century of work 
in Bible Distribution, Translation, and Publication by 
The American Baptist Publication Society, by publish- 
ing this translation of the Gospels. 


‘The author offers the results of many years of happy 
work, in deep humility and with a keen sense of the 
many shortcomings of her work; but in the ardent hope 
that it may bring to some a fresh sense of the actuality 
and power of the wonderful records of the One Perfect 
Life which has ever been lived. In devotion to him who 
is Saviour and Master, she offers this work of love. 


HELEN B. MONTGOMERY. 


MY DECLARATION OF DISCIPLESHIP 


-I DESIRE to enroll myself as a disciple of Jesus Christ. 
I trust in His promise that He will reject none who 
come to Him. I confess my sins, and rely on His prom- 
ise of forgiveness to all who repent and confess. I 
renounce self and will seek to follow Jesus. I. claim 
the promised guidance of the Holy Spirit into all truth. 
I promise to make love the law of my life, and to accept 
my Master’s oft-reiterated invitation to prayer and 


communion. 


MATTHEW’S GOSPEL 


Probable Date: 
Writer: 


Gospel: 


Key Verses: 


Symbol: 
Method: 


Soon after Destruction of Jerusalem. 


A Galilean Jew, writing to Hebrews. 
Shows Jesus as the promised Messiah. 
Quotes Old Testament sixty-five times. 


1. The Gospel of the Kingdom of 
Heaven. (Phrase in varying form 
used fifty times.) 

2. The Gospel of the Messiah. 

The Gospel of the Rejected Messiah. 


Matthew 21: 42-44, “ The Stone that 
the builders rejected has been made 
the corner-stone,” ete. 


The Lion of the Tribe of Judah. 


Philosophical rather than chronolog- 
ical; exposition rather than history. 


1 


Ot 


-MATTHEW’S GOSPEL 


I 


THE BIRTH STORY OF JESUS 


The Genealogical Tables of Jesus Christ 


The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the 
son of David, the son of Abraham. 


Abraham was the father of Isaac; 
Isaac was the father of Jacob; 
Jacob, of Judah and his brethren; 
Judah (by Tamar), of Perez and Zerah; 
Perez, of Hezron; 

Hezron, of Ram; 

Ram, of Amminadab; 

Amminadab, of Nahshon; 
Nahshon, of Salmon; 

Salmon (by Rahab), of Boaz; 
Boaz (by Ruth), of Obed; 

Obed, of Jesse; 

And Jesse, of David the king. 


David (by Uriah’s widow), was the father of Solo- 
mon; 
Solomon, of Rehoboam; 
Rehoboam, of Abijah; 
Abijah, of Asa; 
Asa, of Jehoshaphat; 
Jehoshaphat, of Joram; 
Joram, of Uzziah; 
Uzziah, of Jotham; 
Jotham, of Ahaz; 
Ahaz, of Hezekiah; 


10 


11 


12 


13 


14 


15 


16 


iy 


18 


iy, 


20 


21 


22 


MATTHEW 1 


Hezekiah, of Manasseh; 

Manasseh, of Amon; 

Amon, of Josiah; 

Josiah, of.Jechoniah and his brethren, at the time of 
the carrying away to Babylon. 


And after the carrying away into Babylon, 
Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel; 
Shealtiel, of Zerubbabel; 

Zerubbabel, of Abiud; 

Abiud, of Eliakim; 

Eliakim, of Azor; 

Azor, of Sadoc; 

Sadoc, of Achim; 

Achim, of Eliud; 

Eliud, of Eleazar; 

Eleazar, of Matthan; 

Matthan, of Jacob; 

And Jacob, of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of 
whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 


So the whole number of generations from Abra- 
ham to David is fourteen; from David to the exile to 
Babylon is fourteen; and from the exile to Babylon 
to Christ is fourteen. 


The Virgin Birth 


The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way: 
After his mother, Mary, had been betrothed to 
Joseph, before they came together, she was found 
to be with child by the Holy Spirit. But Joseph 
her husband, because he was a just man and un- 
willing to disgrace her, was minded to put her away 
secretly. And while he was having this in mind, 
behold! an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a 
dream, saying: 

“ Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take 
Mary your wife home, for what is begotten in her 
is by the Holy Spirit; and she will bear a son, and 
you are to call him Jesus, for he will save his people 
from their sins.” 

All this happened that the word of the Lord 
spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: 


A 


= 


24 
25 


4 
8 


MATTHEW 2 


Behold! the virgin shall be with child, and shall 
bear a son; and they shall call his name Immanuel,' 
a word which means “ God with us.” 

Now when Joseph awoke from his sleep he did as 
the angel of the Lord had directed him, and took 
his wife home, but did not live with her until after 
the birth of her son, whom he called Jesus. 


1 Taal etd 


II 
THE VISIT OF THE WISEMEN 


Visit of the Wisemen (the Magi) | 


After the birth of Jesus, which took place at 
Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King 
Herod, lo! certain Magi arrived in Jerusalem, say- 
ing: 

“Where is the new-born King of the Jews? For 
we have seen his star in the East, and are come to 
worship him.” 

When King Herod heard this he was troubled, 
and all Jerusalem with him. So when he had: gath- 
ered together all the chief priests and rabbis of the 
people, he began to inquire of them where the Christ 
was to be born. And they told him: 

“ At Bethlehem in Judea, as it is written in the 
Prophet: 

“And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah, 

Thou art not least among the princes of Judah, 

For out of thee shall come a Ruler 

Who shall shepherd my people, Israel.” * 


Herod Despatches the Magi 


Thereupon Herod sent secretly for the Magi, and 
found out from them the time when the star ap- 
peared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, 

“Go and make careful inquiry about the child, 
and as soon as you have found him bring me word, 
that I, too, may go and worship him.” 


1 Micah 5; 2. 


H 


10 
11 


12 


13 


14 
15 


16 


17 
18 


MATTHEW 2 


A Star Guides Them 

The Magi listened to the king, and went on their 
way, and lo! the star which they had seen in the 
east led them on until it came and stood over the 
place where the young child was. And when they 
saw the star, they rejoiced with great gladness. 
When they had entered the house, they saw the 
child with Mary, his mother, and prostrated them- 
selves and worshiped him, and opening their trea- 
sure-chests they gave him gifts, gold and frankin- 
cense and myrrh. But because they were forbidden 
by God in a dream to go back to Herod, they re- 
turned to their own country by another route. 


The Flight Into Egypt 


When they were gone an angel of the Lord ap- 
peared to Joseph in a dream, saying: 

“Rise! Take the young child and his mother and 
flee into Egypt, and there remain until I bring you 
word; for Herod intends to make a search for the 
child, in order to put him to death.” 

So Joseph arose, took the child and his mother, 
by night, and departed to Egypt. There he re- 
mained until the death of Herod, in order that the 
word of the Lord through the prophet might be 
fulfilled, which says, 

Out of Egypt I called my Son? 


Slaughter of the Innocents 


As soon as Herod saw that he had been mocked by 
the Magi, he was furious. He sent and put to death 
all the boys in Bethlehem and all the neighborhood 
who were two years old or under, in accordance with 
the date which he had ascertained from the Magi. 
Then were fulfilled the words spoken through Jere- 
miah, the prophet, saying, 

A voice was heard in Ramah, 

Weeping and lamentation— 

Rachel weeping for her children, 
Inconsolable, because they were no morel* 


2 Hosea 11: 1. 
Ser ot ers. 


6 


MATTHEW 3 


Return from Egypt 


19 But after Herod’s death an angel of the Lord 
20 appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 

** Rise! Take the child and his mother, and go into 
the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the 
life of the child are dead.” 

21 + So he rose and took the child and his mother, and 

22 came into the land of Israel. But when he heard 
that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his 
father, Herod, he was afraid to go there; and being 
warned of God in a dream, he withdrew into Gali- 

23 lee and settled in a town called Nazareth, in fulfil- 
ment of the word spoken through the Prophets, 

He shall be called a Nazarene.* 


fIsan ud 1a: O, 


III 
BEGINNINGS OF THE GOSPEL 


Preaching of John the Baptist 


1 In those days came John the Baptist preaching in 
the desert of Judea; 
2 ‘“ Repent,” said he, “ for the kingdom of heaven is 
3 at hand.” This John it was of whom it was said 
through Isaiah, the prophet, 
The voice of one who cries aloud in the desert, 
“Prepare a way for the Lord, 
Make the paths straight for him.’ * 
4 This John wore a garment of camel’s hair, and 
a leather belt around his waist, and his food was 
5 locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem began to 
go out to him, and all Judea, and the whole neigh- 
6 borhood of the Jordan, and were baptized by him 
in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 


Warning to Formalists 
7 But when John saw that many of the Pharisees 
and Sadducees were coming for baptism, he said: 
“ O brood of vipers! Who has warned you to flee 


1Tsa. 40: 3. 


10 


11 


12 


16 


17 


1 
2 


MATTHEW 4 


from the wrath to come? Then bring forth fruit 
worthy of: repentance. And do not presume to say 
to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father ’— 
I tell you that out of these very stones God is able 
to raise up descendants for Abraham.. And already 
the axe is lying at the roots of the trees., Any tree, 
therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down 
and cast into the fire. I indeed am baptizing you 
in water, unto repentance; but One is. coming after 
me, mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy 
to carry. He will baptize you in the, Holy Spirit 
and in fire.. His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and 
he will thoroughly cleanse the threshing-floor. He 
will store his wheat in the granary, but will burn up 
the chaff in unquenchable fire.” 


The Baptism of Jesus 


At that very time Jesus was on his way from 
Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by 
him. But he tried to prevent him. 

“It is I,” he said, “who need to be baptized by 
you, and are you coming to me?” 

But Jesus answered, “ Permit it now, for so it is 
fitting for us to fulfil every religious duty.” 

Then he consented, And after Jesus was bap- 
tized, as soon as he rose out of the water, lo! the 
heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God de- 
scending like a dove and alighting upon him, while 
a voice from heaven said, 

“This is my Son, the Beloved, 
In whom I delight.” * 


IV 
TEMPTATIONS IN THE WILDERNESS 


First Temptation: In the Sphere of Bodily Appetites 


Then Jesus was led up into the desert by the 
Spirit, to be tempted by the devil. And after he had 


8 


4 


11 


12 
18 


MATTHEW 4 


fasted forty days and forty nights, he became 
hungry. So the Tempter came and said to him, 

“Tf you are the Son of God, bid these stones to 
become bread.” 
Jesus answered him, 

“Tt is written, Not by bread alone shall man live, 
but by every word that comes from the mouth of 
God.” * 


Second Temptation: In the Sphere of Intellectual Curi- 
Osity 


Then the devil took him up into the Holy City and 
stood him on the parapet of the Temple, and said 
to him: 

“Tf you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; 
for it is written, 

“ He will give his angels charge over thee; 

Upon their hands they will bear thee up, 
Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” * 

“It is written again,” answered Jesus, “ Thou 

shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” * 


Third Temptation: In the Sphere of Personal Ambition 


Then the devil took Jesus to a very high moun- 
tain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the earth 
and the glory of them, and said to him, 

“ All these will I give you, if you will fall down 
and worship me.” 

“Begone, Satan!” answered Jesus, “for it is 
written, . 

“ Thou must worship the Lord thy God, and Him 
only must thow serve.” * 

Then the devil left him, and behold! angels came 
and kegan ministering to him. 


Jesus in Galilee 
Now when Jesus heard that John had been 


arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. He left Naza- 
reth, and settled in Capernaum-by-the-Lake, near 


Wet. Smo 8’ Deut. 6: 16. 
2Pg, 91: 11, 12. * Deut sci 13s 


14 


15 


16 


aE, 


24 


25 


MATTHEW 4 


the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, in order that 

these words spoken through Isaiah the prophet, 

might be fulfilled: 

Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali; 

The road by the Lake; the country beyond Jordan; 

Galilee of the Gentiles! 

The people who were dwelling in darkness 

Have seen a great light; 

And on those who were dwelling in the land of the 
shadow of death 

Light has dawned.° 


Jesus Calls Four Humble Disciples 


From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 
“‘ Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 

And as he was walking by the sea of Galilee, he 
saw two brothers—Simon who is called Peter, and 
Andrew, his brother—casting their net into the sea, 
for they were fishermen. 

“Come, follow me,” said Jesus, “ and I will make 
you fishers of men.” And they dropped their nets 
at once, and followed him. 

As he went farther on he saw two other brothers, 
James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in 
the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their 
nets, and he called them. They immediately left the 
boat and their father, and followed him. 


First Preaching Tour in Galilee 


Then Jesus went about through all Galilee, teach- 
ing in the synagogues, and preaching the gospel of 
the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and 
infirmity among the people. And his fame spread 
throughout all Syria. They brought all the sick to 
him, those who were suffering from various dis- 
eases and troubles—demoniacs, epileptics, paralyt- 
ics—and he healed them. Great crowds followed 
him from Galilee, from the Ten Towns, from Jeru- 
salem, and Judea, and from beyond Jordan. 


Psa. Ouse. bo 2) 


10 


MATTHEW 5 


Vv 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT 


THE CONSTITUTION OF THE KINGDOM 


Who Are the Really Blessed? 


1 When he saw the crowds, he went up the moun- 
tain, and when he had seated himself, his disciples 

2 came to him, and opening his lips he began to teach 
them, saying: 


3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom 
of heaven is theirs. 

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be 
comforted. 

5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the 
earth. 


6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for 
righteousness, for they shall be completely satisfied. 

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain 
mercy. 

8 ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see 
God. 

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be 
called sons of God. 

10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted in 
the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom 
of heaven. 

11 “Blessed are you when they shall revile you, and 
persecute you, and say all manner of evil against 

12 you falsely, for my name’s sake. Rejoice and exult 
in it, because your reward is great in the heavens; 
for so did they persecute the prophets before you. 


Citizens of the Kingdom Are Salt and Light 


13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt 
lose its savor, in what way shall it be salted? It 
is henceforth good for nothing but to be thrown 

14 out and trodden under foot of men. You are the 
light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot 

15 be hid; nor do men light a lamp, and put it under 


44 


16 


17 
18 


19 


20 


21 


a2 


24 


25 


MATTHEW 5 


the bushel, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light 
to all who are in the house. So let your light shine 
before men that they may see the good you do, and 
give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 


Not to Destroy but to Fulfil 


“Do not suppose that I am come to destroy the 
Law or the Prophets. I am come not to destroy, 
but to fulfil. In solemn truth I tell you that until 
heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a 
comma, will pass from the Law until all has taken 
place. So whoever breaks one of these least com- 
mandments, and teaches others to break them, will 
be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But he 
who keeps them and teaches them, he will be called 
great in the kingdom of heaven. For I assure 
you that unless your righteousness exceed that of 
the Scribes and Pharisees, you will not find entrance 
into the kingdom of heaven. 


Anger and Murder 


“You have heard that it was said to the ancients, 

“ Thou shalt not commit murder, and 

“He who commits murder shall be liable to econ- 
demnation by the court; 
but I say to you that he who becomes angry with his 
brother shall be liable to condemnation by the 
court; and he who says to his brother ‘ Raca,’ shall 
be liable to condemnation by the Sanhedrin, while 
he who curses his brother shall be liable to the 
Gehenna of Fire. 


Reconciliation, then Sacrifice 


“If therefore when you are offering your gift 
upon the altar, and there remember that your 
brother has a grievance against you, leave there your 
gift before the altar, and go and make friends with 
your brother, first of all; then come and offer your 
gift. Come to terms with your opponent quickly, 
while you are yet with him on the way [to the 


1 Bxod,. 20-:.13. 


ahd 


MATTHEW 5 


court]; to prevent your opponent from handing you 
over to the judge, and the judge to the jailer, and 
26 so you be thrown into prison. I tell you truly that 
you would certainly not get out from there until 
you had paid back the last cent. 


Lust in a Look 


27 ~+“You have heard that it was said, 
“Thou shalt not commit adultery? 
28 But I say to you that whoever looks with lust at a 
woman has already committed adultery with her 
29 in his heart. And if your eye, your right eye, 
entices you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. 
It is better for you to lose one of your bodily organs 
than for your whole body to be cast into the pit. 
80 And if your right hand entices you into sin, cut it 
off and cast it from you; for it is better for you 
to lose one of your bodily organs, than to have 
your whole body go down into the pit. 


Divorce 


pie ety Was is0 sid, 
“Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill 
of separation.® 
82 But I tell you that any one who divorces his wife, 
except on the ground of unchastity, makes her an 
adulteress, and whoever marries her when so di- 
vorced, commits adultery. 


Profanity 


33 “Again you have heard that it was said to the 
men of old, 
“You must not forswear yourselves, but must per- 
form your vows to the Lord.* 
84 But I say to you, swear not at all; neither by the 
35 sky, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is 
the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is 
36 the city of the Great King. Nor must you swear 
by your head, since you cannot make one hair 


2 Exod. 20 : 14. 
$Deut. 24 °* 3. 
‘*Pxod. 20: Ts Num. 80 ¢ ‘2; Deut. 23 ° 27. 


37 


38 
39 
40 
41 


42 


es) 


44 
45 


46 
47 


48 


2 


MATTHEW 6 


white or black. But let your word be simply ‘ Yes’ 
or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the 
Evil One. 


Not Retaliation, but Generosity 


“You have heard that it was said, 

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.® 
But I tell you not to retaliate the injury; but who- 
ever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other 
to him also; and if any one wants to go to law with 
you and takes away your coat, let him take your 
cloak also. Whoever impresses you to go one mile, 
go two miles with him. Give to him who asks, and 
from him who wants to borrow from you, do not 
turn away. 


Love for Hate 


“You have heard that it was said, 

“You shall love your neighbor and hate your 
enemy.° 
But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for 
those who persecute you. So you will become sons 
of your heavenly Father; for he makes his sun 
to rise upon sinners as well as saints, and sends 
rain upon the unjust and the just. For if you love 
only those who love you, what reward have you? 
Even the tax-gatherers do that, do they not? And 
if you show courtesy to your brother only, what are 
you doing more than others? Even the Gentiles 
do that, do they not? You then must be perfect, as 
your heavenly Father is perfect.” 


5 Exod. 21 : 24. 
6Lev. 19 : 18. 


Vi 
REALITY IN RELIGION 


Hidden Good Deeds 

“Be careful not to do your good deeds in the 
sight of men, in order to be observed by them. If 
you do, you have no reward with your heavenly 
Father. And whenever you give alms, do not.sound 


14 


5 


10 


11 
12 


13 


MATTHEW 6 


a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the 
synagogues and streets, in order that men may 
praise them. In solemn truth I tell you they al- 
ready have their reward in full. But when you 
give alms, do not let your right hand know what 
your left is doing, so that your alms may be in 
secret; and your Father who sees in secret will re- 
ward you openly. 


Secret Prayer 

““ And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypo- 
crites. For they love to stand and pray in the syna- 
gogues and on the corners of the avenues, in order 
that men may see them. In solemn truth I tell you 
that they already have their reward in full. But 
you, when you pray, go into your own room and 
shut your door; pray to your Father who is in secret, . 
and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 


Reality in Prayer 

“ While praying do not say the same words over 
and over again, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose 
that by their much speaking they will gain atten- 
tion. Do not be like them, for your Father knows 
what you need before you ask him. So pray in 
this way: 


The “ Lord’s Prayer ” 
“ Our Father who art in heaven, 
May thy name be hallowed, 
thy kingdom come, 
and thy will be done, 
On earth, as in heaven. 
Give us today 
our bread for the day before us; 
And forgive us our debts 
as we also have forgiven our debtors; 
And lead us not into temptation, 
but. deliver us from the Evil One; 
[For thine is the kingdom and the power 
and the glory. Amen.] * 


1 The words in brackets are not found in the earliest manu- 
scripts. 


1b 


14 
15 


16 


17 
18 


19 
20 


21 


22, 
23 


24 


25 


MATTHEW 6 


Forgiving and Forgiven 

“For if you forgive men their offenses against 
you, your heavenly Father will forgive you also; but 
if you do not forgive men their offenses, neither will 
your heavenly Father forgive you your offenses. 


Fasting before God 

“When you fast, do not look downcast like the 
hypocrites; for they disfigure their faces so that it 
may be apparent to men that they are fasting. In 
solemn truth I tell you, they already have received 
their reward. But when one of you fasts, let him 
anoint his head and wash his face, so that he may 
not appear to men to be fasting, but to his Father 
who is in secret; and his Father who sees in secret 
will reward him. 


The Heart is with the Treasure 

‘‘ Store up for yourselves no treasures on earth, 
where moth and rust consume, and where thieves 
break through and steal; but store up for your- 
selves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor 
rust consume, and where thieves do not break 
through nor steal. For wherever your treasure is, 
there will your heart be also. 


The Inner Light 

“The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore if 
your eye is sound, your whole body will be well 
lighted; but if your eye is unsound, your whole 
body will be darkened. If then the very light with- 
in you is darkness, how dense is that darkness! 


No Divided Allegiance 

“No slave can serve two masters, “pe either he 
will hate the one and love the other, or he will pay 
heed to the one and despise the other. You cannot 
be the slaves both of God and of gold. 


He Cares, so Do Not Worry 
“For this reason I say to you, do not pe anxious 
about your life, inquiring what you shall eat or 


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3 
4 


5 


MATTHEW 7 


what you shall drink, nor yet for your body, in- 
quiring what you shall wear. Is not your life 
more than its food, and your body than its cloth- 
ing? Behold! the birds in the sky! They neither 
sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, yet your 
heavenly Father feeds them; and are not you worth 
more than they? Which one of you by being anx- 
ious is able to add even one cubit to his stature? 
Why be anxious then about clothing? Consider the 
lilies of the field, how they grow. They toil not, 
neither do they spin. But I say to you that not even 
Solomon in all his glory was robed like one of 
these. If God then so clothes the grass of the 
field, which blooms today, and tomorrow is cast 
into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, 
you of little faith? Then do not be anxious, say- 
ing, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we 
drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For all these 
are things that the Gentiles are eagerly seeking; for 
your heavenly Father knows that you have need of 
them all. But continue to seek first his kingdom 
and his righteousness, and all these things shall be 
added to you. Do not then be anxious about tomor- 
row, for tomorrow will bring its own anxieties. 
Enough for each day are its own troubles.” 


vil 


SOME FUNDAMENTAL CONTRASTS 


The Mote in the Eye 


“Judge not, that you may not be judged, your- 
selves; for with what judgment you judge, you will 
be judged, and in what measure you measure, others 
will measure to you. And why do you look at the 
mote in your brother’s eye, and fail to notice the 
beam which is in your own eye? Or how will you 
say to your brother, ‘ Permit me to remove the mote 
from your eye,’ when, behold, the beam is in your 
own eye? Hypocrite! First cast out the beam from 


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15 


16 
17 


18 


19 
20 


MATTHEW 7 


your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to 
cast the mote out of your brother’s eye. 


Pearls before Swine 


“Do not give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast 
your pearls before swine; lest in turn they trample 
them under their feet, and then turn and attack you. 


Prayer’s Magna Charta 


“ Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you 
will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 
For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks 
finds, and to him who knocks the door is opened. 
What man of you is there who, when his son asks 
a loaf, will give him a stone? or if his son asks 
for a fish, will offer him a snake? If you then, evil 
as you are, know how to give good gifts to your 
children, how much more will your heavenly Father 
give good gifts to those who ask him? Therefore, 
everything that you would have men do to you, do 
you also the same to them; for this is the Law and 
the Prophets. 


Life’s Steep Road 


“Enter by tne narrow gate; for broad is the gate 
and wide the road that leads to destruction, and 
many are they who go in by it; but the gate is 
narrow and the road is steep, which leads to life, 
and they are few who find it. 


Truth’s Pragmatism 


“Beware of false prophets who come to you in 
Sheep’s clothing, but within they are ravening 
wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Are 
grapes gathered of thorns, or figs of thistles? No, 
every good tree bears good fruit, but a worthless 
tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad 
fruit; neither can a worthless tree bear good fruit. 
Every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut 
down and cast into the fire. Hence it is by their 
fruit you will know them. 


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1 
2 


MATTHEW 8 


Obedience, the Eye of the Soul 

“Not every one who says to me, ‘ Lord, Lord,’ will 
enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does 
the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many in 
that Day will say to me, 

“¢QLord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your 
name, and in your name cast out demons, and in 
your name done many mighty works?’ 

“Then I will tell them plainly, 

““T never knew you; depart from me, you work- 

ers of iniquity.’ 


A Rock Foundation 


“Every one who hears my words and does them 
I will liken to a wise man who built his house upon 
the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods 
came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, 
but it fell not, for it was founded upon the rock. 
And every one who hears these words of mine and 
does them not, I will liken to a foolish man, who 
built his house upon the sand. And the rain de- 
scended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, 
and beat upon that house, and it fell, and great 
was the fall of it.” 

Now when Jesus had finished his discourse, the 
crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he was 
teaching them as one having authority, and not as 
their scribes taught them. 


Vill 


A DAY OF MIRACLES BY THE SEA 


A Leper Cleansed 
As he went down from the mountain, great crowds 
followed him. And behold! a leper came and knelt 
before him, saying, 
“Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” 
Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. 
“1 do choose,” he said, ‘become clean,” and im- 
mediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 


19 


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eo) 


10 


11 


13 


14 
15 


16 


MATTHEW 8 


Jesus said to him, “ See that you tell no one, but 
go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift 
which Moses commanded, as an evidence to them.” ? 


Cure of a Roman Officer’s Slave 


When he entered Capernaum, an army captain 
came, and entreated him, saying, 

“Lord, my slave at home is lying ill with paralysis, 
in terrible agony.” 

“I will come and heal him,” said Jesus, 

“Lord,” said the captain in reply, “I am not 
worthy to have you under my roof, but speak the 
word only, and my slave will be cured. For I my- 
self also am a man under authority, and I have sol- 
diers under me. To one man I say ‘Go,’ and he 
goes; to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my 
slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 


Faith Found in an Outsider 


As Jesus listened to this reply he was astonished, 
and said to those who followed him: 

“In solemn truth I tell you that I have not found 
faith like this in any Israelite. I tell you that many 
will come from the east and from the west, and sit 
down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the 
kingdom of heaven, but the sons of the kingdom 
will be cast out into the outer darkness; there will 
be the wailing and the gnashing of teeth.” 

Then Jesus said to the captain: “Go! As you 
have believed, so be it unto you.” And his slave 
was healed in that very hour. 


Peter’s Wife’s Mother Healed 


When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he found his 
wife’s mother prostrated with fever. He touched 
her hand, and the fever left her; and she arose and 
waited upon him. 


Miracles at Eventide 


At evening-time they brought to him many de- 
moniacs. He cast out the demons with a word, and 


1Lev. 14: 4. 
2e 


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24 
25 


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MATTHEW 8 


healed all who were ill, that the word spoken 
through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, 

He took upon himself our weaknesses, and bore 
the burden of our diseases.” 


The Homeless Saviour 

When Jesus saw the great crowds about him, he 
had given directions to cross to the other side, when 
a Scribe came up and said to him, 

“ Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go! ” 

“ Foxes have their holes,” answered Jesus, “ and 
wild birds their roosting-places; but the Son of man 
has not where to lay his head.” 


The Dead to Bury the Dead 
Another of his disciples said to him, 
“Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.” 
“Follow me,” Jesus said to him, “and leave the 
dead to bury their own dead.” 


The Winds and the Waves Obey Him 

Then he went on board a fishing-boat, his dis- 
ciples accompanying him; and behold, a sudden 
storm arose on the sea, so that the boat began to 
be buried by the waves. But he was asleep. And 
they came and woke him, saying: 

“Lord, save us! We are drowning! ” 

“Why are you afraid?” he said, ‘you men of 
little faith! ” 

Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the. 
sea, and there came a great calm. But the men 
were amazed, saying, 

“What manner of man is this, that even the 
winds and the sea obey him? ” 


Two Demoniacs Cured 

When he arrived on the other side, in the country 
of the Gadarenes, he was met by two demoniacs 
who were coming out of the tombs. They were so 
violently fierce that no one dared pass along that 
road. 


2Isa. 53 : 4. 


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33 
54 


oF SO asm . 09 


MATTHEW 9 


“You Son of God,” they shouted, “what have 
you to do with us? Are you come to torment us be- 
fore the time?” 

Now there was, at some distance from them, a 
herd of many swine feeding; and the demons began 
entreating him. 

“Tf you are going to drive us out,” they said, 
“send us into that herd of swine.” 

He answered, “ Go! ” 


Property vs. Persons 


So they came out of the men, and went into the 
swine, and behold! the entire herd rushed headlong 
down from the cliff into the sea, and perished in the 
water. The swineherds fled. They went away into 
the city and told all about it, and what had befallen 
the demoniacs. At once all the citizens came out 
to meet Jesus; and when they had seen him, they 
begged him to move away from their country. 


IX 
THE GALILEAN CIRCUIT 


A Paralytic Borne of Four 


So he went on board, crossed the sea, and came to 
his own city. 

And here they brought to him a paralytic lying 
on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith he said to 
the paralytic, 

“Courage, son, your sins are forgiven.” 

And behold! certain scribes said to themselves, 

“ This man is blaspheming.” 

And because Jesus knew well their thought, he 
said: 

“Why do you think evil in your hearts? For 
which is easier, to say ‘ Your sins are forgiven,’ or 
to say, ‘ Rise and walk’? But that you may know 
that the Son of man has power on earth to for- 
give sins ’—he then says to the paralytic, 


22 


MATTHEW 9 


“ Rise, take up your bed, and go to your home.” 


7,8 And he rose and went to his home. But all the 


10 


11 


12 


13 


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15 


16 


17 


crowd were awestruck, and glorified God, who had 
given such power to men. 


Calling Publicans and Sinners 


As Jesus was passing thence, he saw a man 
called Matthew sitting at the tax-office, and said 
to him, 

“ Follow me.” 

And he rose and followed him. And while he was 
at table in Matthew’s house, there came many tax- 
gatherers and sinners, and they dined with Jesus 
and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw it, they 
kept saying to his disciples, 

“ Why does your Teacher eat with the tax-gath- 
erers and sinners? ” 

“It is not those who are well,” said Jesus, when 
he heard this, “but the sick, who need a doctor. 
But go and learn what this means, 

“It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice; * 
for I am come not to call just men, but sinners.” 


A Question about Fasting 

At that time the disciples of John came and 
asked him, “ Why are we and the Pharisees always 
fasting, while your disciples are not?” 


The Gospel, a Joyous Ferment of New Life 

“Can the friends fast at a wedding-feast,” said 
Jesus, “so long as the bridegroom is with them? 
But the days will come when the bridegroom has 
been taken from them, and then they will fast. 
No one ever sews a piece of undressed cloth on an 
old cloak. If they did, the patch put on to fill it 
up would tear away from the cloak, and the rent ‘ 
be made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old 
wine-skins; if they did, the wine-skins would split, 
the wine would run out, and the skins be ruined. 
Instead, they put new wine into fresh wine-skins, 
and both are preserved.” 


1 Hosea 6: 6. 
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21 
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MATTHEW 9 


A Ruler’s Faith 

As he was saying these words to them, a ruler 
came up and knelt before him, saying: 

“My daughter has just died; but come, put your 
hand upon her, and she will live.” 

And Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his 
disciples. 


The Touch of Faith 


But a woman who had had a hemorrhage for 
twelve years came up behind him, and touched the 
tassel of his cloak. For she said to herself, 

“Tf only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” 

But Jesus turned and saw her and said, 

“Be of good courage, daughter, your faith has 
healed you.” 

And the woman was healed from that hour. 


“ Little Daughter, Rise ” 


Now when Jesus had come into the house of the 
ruler, and had seen the flute-players and the wailing 
crowd, he said, 

“ Leave the room, for the little girl is not dead, 
she is sleeping.” 

And they began laughing at him. 

When, however, the crowd had been driven out, 
he went in and took her hand, and the little girl 
woke up.. And the report of this spread through- 
out that whole region. 


Two Blind Men See 


And as he went on from thence two blind men 
followed Jesus, crying, 

‘““ Have pity on us, Son of David! ” 

And when he had gone indoors, they came to him. 

“To you believe that I can do this?” asked Jesus. 

“Yes, Lord,” they answered. 

Then he touched their eyes, saying, 

*“ According to your faith be it unto you,” and 
their eyes were opened. 

Jesus charged them sternly, saying, 

“ See to it that you let no one know.” 


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32 
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38 


MATTHEW 10 


But they went and published his fame in that 
whole region. 


A Dumb Demoniac Speaks 


And as they were departing a dumb demoniac 
was brought to him, and when he had driven out 
the demon, the dumb spoke. The one were 
amazed, saying, 

“Never was such a thing seen in Israel! ” 

But the Pharisees kept saying, 

“Tt is in the power of the Prince of the demons 
that he is casting out demons.” 


The Second Galilean Circuit 


And Jesus continued to go throughout all the cities 
and towns, teaching in the synagogues, preaching 
the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind 
of disease and infirmity. And when he saw the 
crowds he had compassion on them because they 
were distressed and fainting, like sheep without a 
shepherd. And he said to his disciples: 


“ Therefore Pray” 

“The harvest is great, but the laborers are few; 
therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to thrust 
forth laborers into his harvest field.” 


x 


CALL AND COMMISSION OF THE TWELVE 
APOSTLES 


Choosing Twelve Missionaries 

And when he had called his twelve disciples to 
him, he gave them power over evil spirits, to cast 
them out, and to heal every kind of disease and in- 
firmity. 

These are the names of the apostles (mission- 
aries) :* 

1The words “apostle”? and ‘“ missionary” mean the same 


thing. The first word is derived from the Greek ; the second, 
from the Latin. 


25 


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17 


MATTHEW 10 


First, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew, 
his brother; 

James the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother; 

Philip and Bartholomew; 

Thomas, and Matthew, the tax-gatherer; 

James, the son of Alpheus, and Lebbzeus, whose 
surname is Thaddeus; 

Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed 
him. 

These men, the Twelve, Jesus sent forth, after 
giving them the following instructions: 


The Kingdom Is at Hand 


“Do not go among the Gentiles, or enter any 
Samaritan town, but rather be on your way to the 
lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, 
preach, saying, ‘ The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast 
out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 
Take no gold or silver or coppers in your purses; 
not even a bag for the journey, or a change of 
clothes, or sandals, or even a stick; for the worker 
is worth his rations. 


Directions for the Journey 


“Into whatever city or town you enter, inquire 
for some worthy person there, and stay with him 
until you leave. When you enter the house, salute 
it; and if the house is worthy let your blessing rest 
upon it; but if it be unworthy, let your blessing 
return to you. And whoever will not receive you 
or listen to your words, as you go out from that 
house or that city, shake off the very dust from your 
feet. I tell you solemnly it will be more tolerable 
for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment 
than for that town. 


Hardships to Be Expected 


“ Behold, it is I who am sending you forth lke 
sheep among wolves. Be then as wary as serpents 
and as guileless as doves. But beware of men! 


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MATTHEW 10 


For they will give you up to the Sanhedrin, and 
flog you in their synagogues. And you will be 
taken before governors and kings for my sake, as a 
testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when- 
ever they apprehend you, do not be anxious about 
how you shall speak or what you shall say; for it 
will be given you in that very hour what to say. 
For it will not be you who is speaking, but the 
Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. And — 
brother will betray brother to death, and a father 
his child; and children will rise up against their 
parents and put them to death. You will be hated 
by all men because of my name; and he who en- 
dures to the end shall be saved. But when they 
persecute you in one city, flee to the next. In 
solemn truth I tell you that you shall not have 
completed the cities of Israel, before the Son of 
man comes. 


Fear Not; Your Father Knows 


“A pupil is not above his teacher, nor a slave 
above ‘his master. It is enough for the pupil to fare 
like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If 
they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, 
how much more, the members of his household. So 
do not fear them; for there is nothing concealed 
which shall not be revealed, nor anything secret 
which shall not become known. What I am telling 
you in the darkness, do you speak in the light; and 
what is whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the 
housetops. 


The God of the Infinitely Little 


“ Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but 
cannot kill the soul; but fear rather him who can 
destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not 
two sparrows sold for a half-penny? Yet not one 
of them will fall to the ground without your Father. 
The very hairs on your head are all numbered. 
Cease to be afraid! You are of greater value than 
many sparrows. 


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MATTHEW 11 


Cost of Serving Christ 


“Every one, then, who will confess me before 
men, I also will confess before my Father who is in 
heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I 
also will disown before my Father who is in heaven. 
Do not suppose that I am come to bring peace on 
the earth; I am come not to bring peace, but a 
sword. For I came to set 

“a man against his father, a daughter against 

her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother- 
in-law; and a man’s own household will be his 
enemies.” 
He who loves father or mother more than me is 
not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter 
more than me is not worthy of me; and he who 
does not take his cross and follow after me is not 
worthy of me. He who has saved his life shall 
lose it; and he who has lost his life for my sake 
shall find it. 


Reward of Serving Christ 


“Whoever receives you is receiving me, and he 
who receives me is receiving Him who sent me. 
Whoever receives a prophet beeause he is a prophet, 
shall receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever re- 
ceives a righteous man because he is a righteous 
man, shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And 
whoever gives to drink to one of these little ones a 
cup of cold water only, because he is a disciple, I 
tell you in solemn truth, he shall not lose his 
reward.” 


2Micah 7 : 6. 
XI 
JESUS’ TESTIMONY TO JOHN 


John’s Questionings in Prison 

After finishing his instructions to his twelve dis- 
ciples, Jesus left that place, in order to teach and 
to preach in the neighboring cities. But when John 


22 


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9) 


10 


16 


ry 
i 


MATTHEW 11 


heard, in the prison, what the Christ was doing, 
he sent by some of his disciples to ask him, 

“Are you the Coming One, or are we to look 
for some one else? ”’ 


The Gospel’s Irrefutable Proofs 


“Go and tell John,” was Jesus’ answer, ‘ what 
you hear and see: the blind are seeing, the lame are 
walking, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf are hear- 
ing, the dead are being raised up, and the gospel is 
being preached to the poor. And blessed is the man 
who finds no cause of stumbling in me.” 

As these men started to go away, Jesus began to 
speak to the throngs, about John. 


A Voice in the Desert 


“ What did you go out into the desert to behold? ” 
he asked; ‘A reed shaken by the wind? If not, 
what did you go out to see? A man clothed in 
soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment 
dwell in kings’ palaces! But why did you go? To 
see a prophet? I tell you, yes, and more than a 
prophet; for this is he of whom it is written: 

“ Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, 

And he will prepare thy road for thee. 

“In solemn truth I tell you that there has not 
arisen among those born of women a greater than 
John the Baptist; yet one of the least in the king- 
dom of heaven is greater than he. From the 
days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of 
heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by 
storm. For the prophets and the Law prophesied 
until John; and, if you are willing to receive it, 


he is the Elijah who was to come. Let all who 


have ears, listen! 


The Jews Like Perverse and Petulant Children 

“To what shall I compare this generation? It 
is like little children sitting in the market-place, 
who call to the other children, saying: 

1Mal. 3: 1. 


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24 


25 


26 


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MATTHEW i1 


““¢ We have piped to you and you have not danced; 
We have wailed, but you have not beaten your 
breasts.’ 
For John: came neither eating nor drinking, and 
they said, ‘He has a demon’; and the Son of man 
came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Lo, a 
glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax-gath- 
erers and sinners!’ Nevertheless, Wisdom is Justi- 
fied by her deeds.” 


Sinning Against Light 


Then he began to upbraid the cities in which most 
of his mighty works had been done, because they 
had not repented: 

“Woe unto you, Chorazin! Woe unto you, Beth- 
saida! Because if the mighty works which have 
been done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, 
they would have repented, long ago, in sackcloth 
and ashes. Moreover, I tell you it will be more 
tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the Day of Judg- 
ment, than for you. 

“ And you too, Capernaum! Will you be exalted 
even to heaven? You shall go down to the Place of 
Death! For if the mighty works had been done in 
Sodom which have been done in you, it would have 
remained until this day. I tell you, it will be more 
tolerable for the land of Sodom in the Day of 
Judgment, than for you.” 


Hidden from the Wise and Prudent 


At that time Jesus answered and said: 

“I praise thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, 
that thou hast hidden these things from the wise 
and wary, and hast revealed them to the children. 
Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. 


A Sublime Assertion of Christ’s Deity 


“Everything has been handed over to me by my 
Father; neither does any one know the Son, except 
the Father, nor any one know the Father except 
the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to re- 


30 


MATTHEW 12 


28 veal Him. Come unto me, all who labor and are 

29 heavy laden, and J will give you rest. Take my 
yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle 
and humble in heart, and you will find rest for 

530 your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden 
is light.” 


XII 


A DAY OF TEACHING BY THE SEA 


The Sabbath Is for Man 


1 At that time Jesus walked through the wheat- 
fields one Sabbath Day; and his disciples were 
hungry, and began to pluck some ears of wheat and 

2 to eat them. But the Pharisees, .when they per- 
ceived it, said to him: 

“Look! Your disciples are doing what it is not 
lawful to do on the Sabbath! ” 


The Son of Man Lord of the Sabbath 


3 “Have you not read,” answered Jesus, “ what 
David did when he was hungry, and his men, too? 

4 How he went into the House of God, and there 
they ate the loaves of the Presence, which neither 
he nor his men were permitted to eat, but the priests 

5 only?* Have you not read in the Law how on the 
Sabbath the priests in the Temple break the Sab- 

6 bath and are guiltless? But I tell you that One 

7 is here who is greater than the temple. And if 
you knew what this means, ; 

“It is mercy I desire, not sacrifice,’ 

8 you would not have condemned the guiltless. For 

the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath.” 


The Man with a Withered Hand 
9 As he passed along he went into their synagogue, 
10 and there he saw a man with a withered hand. 
And in order to get a charge against him they 
asked him, 


11° Sam: 21 : 1-6.’ 
2 Hos. 6: 6. 


$1 


MATTHEW 12 


“Ts it permitted to heal on the Sabbath?” (So 
that they might have something to accuse him.) 
11 “Is there a man of you,” he replied, ‘who has 
but a single sheep, who will not lay hold of it and 
lift it out, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath 
12 Day? And how much more is a man worth than 
a sheep? Therefore it is right to do good on the 
Sabbath.” 
13 Then he said to the man, 
“Stretch out your hand.’ 
14. The man stretched it out, and it had become sound 
like the other. But when the Pharisees came out, 
they consulted together how they might destroy him. 


The “ Terrible Meek ” 


15 So when Jesus knew it, he withdrew from that 
16 place, and numbers of people followed him. He 
cured them all; but he strictly forbade them to 
17 blaze abroad his doings, that the word spoken 
through Isaiah, the prophet, might be fulfilled: 
18 Behold my servant whom I have chosen, 
My beloved, in whom my soul delights; 
I will breathe my spirit upon him, 
And he shall announce justice to the Gentiles. 
19 He will not strive nor cry aloud, 
Nor shall any one hear his voice in the streets. 
20 The bruised reed he will not break; 
The dimly burning wick he will not quench; 
Till he has led justice on to victory. 
21 And in his name shall the Gentiles hope.* 


He Heals a Dumb Demoniac 
22. Then they brought to him a blind and tee de- 
moniac; and he healed him, so that the dumb both 
23 spoke and saw. And all the crowds were amazed, 
and began to say, ) 
“Can this be the Son of David?” 
24. When the Pharisees heard it they said, 
“Tt is only by the aid of Beelzebub, the Prince 
of the demons, that this fellow is driving out 
demons.” 


3Isa. 41 : 8; 42: 1-4. 
32 


25 


26 


21 


28 


29 


30 
dl 


o2 


MATTHEW 12 


Because Jesus knew what was in their minds, he 
said to them: 


A Kingdom Divided Against Itself 


“Any kingdom divided against itself will be- 
come desolate; and any city or household divided 
against itself will not stand. So if Satan drives 
out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then 
will his kingdom stand? And if I am casting out 
demons in the power of Beelzebub, in whose power 
do your sons cast them out? So they themselves 
Shall be your judges. But if it is in the power of 
the Spirit of God that I am casting out demons, 
then the kingdom of God is already upon you. Or 
how can any one enter the strong man’s house and 
carry off his goods without first binding the strong 
man? Then he can rob his house. 


The Sin Which Hath Never Forgiveness 


“He who is not with me is against me; and he 
who is not gathering with me, scatters. Therefore 
I tell you that every sin and blasphemy shall be 
forgiven men; but the blasphemy against the Holy 
Spirit shall not be forgiven. And if any man say 
a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven 
him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, 
it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or 
in that which is to come. 


Words Reveal Character 


‘“‘ Hither make the tree good and its fruit good, or 
make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for 
by its fruit the tree is known. You generation of 
vipers! How can you speak good, when you are 
evil? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full 
of. A good man out of his good treasure brings 
forth good; and from his evil treasure a bad man 
brings out evil. I tell you that for every care- 
less word that men speak they shall give account 
on the day of judgment. For by your words you 
will each be justified, and by your words be con- 
demned.” 


33 


MATTHEW 12 


The Pharisees Seek a Sign 


38 Then some of the.Scribes and Pharisees accosted 
him. i 
“ Teacher,” they said, ‘we want to see some sign 
from you.” 
89 In reply Jesus told them: 
“ An evil and faithless generation seeks a sign, 
and no sign will be given them except the sign of 
AQ the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three 
days and three nights in the sea-monster’s belly, 
so the Son of man will be three days and three 
Ai nights in the heart of the earth. The men of 
Nineveh will stand up in the Judgment with this 
generation and condemn it, because they repented 
under the preaching of Jonah, and lo! a greater 
42 than Jonah is here! The Queen of the South will 
rise in the judgment with this generation, and con- 
demn it, because she came from the ends of the 
earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; and lo! 
a greater than Solomon is here! 


The Empty Heart 


43 ‘Whenever an unclean spirit leaves a man, it 
wanders through waterless places, seeking rest but 
44 finding none. Then it says, 
“<T will go back to my house which I left’; 
and on arrival finds it empty, swept, and garnished. 
45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits 
worse than itself; and they enter in and dwell there. 
And the last state of that man is worse than the 
first. So shall it be with this wicked generation.” 


Behold! My Mother, My Brothers! 


46 While he was still talking to the crowd, his 
mother and brothers were standing outside, desir- 
47 ing to speak to him. So some one told him, 
“Your mother and your brothers are standing 
outside, and wanting to speak to you.” 
48 But he answered the man who told him, 
“Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 


34 


MATTHEW 13 


49 And stretching his hand toward his disciples, he 
said, 

50 “ Behold my mother and my brothers! For who- 
ever does the will of my Father in heaven, is my 
brother and sister and mother.” 


XIII 
A DAY OF PARABLES BY THE SEA 


SEVEN PARABLES ON THE KINGDOM 


1 On that same day, after Jesus had left the house, 
2 he took his seat on the seashore; and such a great 
crowd gathered about him that he got into a boat 
and sat in it, while all the crowd stood on the beach. 
8 Then he told them many truths in parables. 


1. Parable of the Sower 


“ Behold,” he said, “ the sower went forth to sow; 
4 and as he sowed, some seed fell by the roadside, and 
5 the birds came and ate it. Some fell on rocky 
ground where there was not much earth. Now 
because it had no depth of soil, it sprang up at once; 
6 but when the sun rose it was scorched, and withered 
7 away because it had no root. Some fell among 
thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked it. 
8 But some fell on good soil, and bore a crop, some 
9 a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who 
has ears, let him hear! ” 


Why Jesus Used Parables 


10 Now when his disciples came up to him, they said, 
11 ‘“‘ Why do you speak to them in parables? ” 
Jesus answered: 
“To you it has been granted to understand the 
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; but to them 
12 it has not been granted. For whoever holds, to 
him shall more be given, and he shall have abun- 


35 


13 


14 


15 


16 
17 


18 
19 


MATTHEW 13 


dance; but whoever does not hold, from him shall 
be taken away even what he holds. This is why I 
speak to them in parables, because seeing they do 
not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they 
understand. And in them is being fulfilled that 
prophecy of Isaiah which says: 

“ Hearing you will hear and not understand; 

Seeing you will see and not perceive; 

For the heart of this people is made fat, 
Their ears are dull of hearing; 

The eyes, too, have they closed, 

Lest some day their eyes should perceive, 
And their ears should hear, 

And their heart should understand and turn, 
And I should heal them. 

“ But happy are your eyes, because they see, and 
your ears because they hear. In solemn truth I tell 
you that many prophets and holy men have longed 
to see what you are looking upon, and have seen it 
not, and to hear what you are hearing, and have 
not heard it. 


Parable of the Sower Explained 


“Listen then, to the parable of the sower. 
Whenever any one hears the message of the king- 
dom, and does not understand it, the Evil One comes 
and snatches away what was sown in his heart. 
This is the seed sown by the wayside. And the 
seed sown upon rocky ground is he who hears the 
word, and at once receives it with joy. But he has 
no root in himself; he continues for a time, but when 
trouble arises, or persecutions, on account of the 
word, at once he stumbles and falls. And the seed 
sown among thorns is he who hears the word, but 
the anxieties of the age and the deceitfulness of 
riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 
But the seed sown in good soil is he who hears the 
word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit, 
and makes now an hundredfold, now sixty, now 
thirty.” 


3 Isa. 6): 9, 10. 
36 


24 


25 


26 


27 


28 


29 


31 
32 


33 


34 
35 


MATTHEW 13 


z. Parable of the Tares 


He told them another parable: 

“The kingdom of heaven,” he said, “is like a 
man who sowed gocd seed in his field; but while 
men were asleep his enemy came and sowed tares 
among his wheat and went away. And when the 
blade shot up and formed the wheat-kernel, then 
the tares also appeared. The slaves of the owner 
went to him and said: 

“¢ Was it not good seed, sir, that you sowed in 
your field? From whence then, do you get tares?’ 

“¢ Tt is an enemy who has done this,’ he answered. 

“The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go 
and collect them? ’ ' 

“No, he answered, ‘for fear lest while you are 
collecting the tares, you at the same time pull up 
the wheat. Let both grow together until harvest, 
and at harvest-time I will tell the reapers to first 
gather the tares and tie them in bundles for burn- 
ing, but to bring all the wheat into my store-house.’ ? 


3. Parable of the Mustard-seed 

He set forth to them another parable, saying: 

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard-seed 
which a man took and planted in his field. This 
is indeed the smallest of seeds, but when it is grown 
it is greater than any herb, and becomes a tree, 
so that the winged things of the sky come and roost 
in its branches.” 


4, Parable of the Leaven 

He told them another parable. He said, 

“The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a 
woman took and hid in three measures of flour, 
until the whole was leavened.” — 

Jesus told all this to the crowd in parables; in- 
deed he never spoke to them except in parables, ‘n 
fulfilment of the word spoken by the prophet, 

I will open my mouth in parables, 

I will utter things kept secret since the founda- 

tion of the world.’ 


PE. (8 5 Ze 
37 


MATTHEW 138 


36 After he had sent the people away and gone into 
the house, his disciples came to him and said, 


Explanation of the Parable of the Weeds 


“Explain to us the parable about the weeds in 
the field.” 
37 “The sower of the good seed,” he answered, “is 
38 the Son of man; the field is the world; the good 
seed is the sons of the kingdom; the weeds, the sons 
39 of the Evil One. The enemy who sows the weeds is 
the devil. The harvest is the end of the age. The 
40 reapers are the angels. Just as the weeds are col- 
lected together and burnt with fire, so will it be at 
41 the end of the age. The Son of man will send forth 
his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom 
42 all hindrances, and whoever practises iniquity, and 
will throw them into the fiery furnace. There will 
43 be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. And 
then shall the just shine forth like the sun in the 
kingdom of their Father. Let him who has ears 
to hear, listen! 


5. Parable of the Buried Treasure 


44 ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried 
in the ground, which a man finds but buries again, 
and then in his joy goes and sells all that he has 
and buys that land. 


6. Parable of the Pearl 


45 “ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant 

46 in search of beautiful pearls. When he finds one of 
great price, he goes away and sells everything he 
has and buys it. 


7. Parable of the Net 


47 “ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that 
was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every 
48 kind. When it was full they hauled it upon the 
beach, and sat down and sorted the good fish into 
49 baskets, but threw the worthless fish away. So 
will it be at the end of the age. The angels will 
go forth and separate the wicked from the right- 


38 


50 
51 


52 


53 
54 


55 


56 
57 


58 


MATTHEW 14 


eous, and fling them into the furnace of fire. There 
shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 

“Have you understood all this? ” he asked. 

“We have,” they answered him. 

“Then,” said he, ‘‘ every scribe who has been in- 
structed in the kingdom of heaven is like a house- 
holder who brings out of his storehouse new things 
and old.” 


Is Not This the Carpenter’s Son? é 

After Jesus had finished these parables, he with- 
drew from that place, and came into his own coun- 
try, where he continued teaching the people in their 
synagogues, until they were amazed. 

“Where did he get such wisdom?” they said, 
“and such wondrous powers? Is not this the car- 
penter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? and 
his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and 
Judas? Are not his sisters all living among us? 
Where, then, did he get all these powers? ” 

This kept them from believing in him. Where- 
fore Jesus said, 

“A prophet is not without honor except in his 
own country and among his own family.” 

And he did no mighty works there, because of 
their lack of faith. 


XIV 
NATURE’S LORD, AND MAN’S 


Herod’s Guilty Conscience 

Just then Herod, the Tetrarch, heard of Jesus’ 
fame, and said to his courtiers: 

“Tnis man is John the Baptist; he is risen from 
the dead. That is why miraculous powers are 
working through him.” 

For Herod had apprehended John, shackled him, 
and thrust him into prison on account of Herodias, 
his brother Philip’s wife, because John kept telling 
him, 

“Tt is not right for you to have her.” 


5 


6 
7 


8 


20 


MATTHEW 14 


Salome’s Dance of Death 


And although he wished to kill John, he feared 
the people, for they considered John a_ prophet. 
But on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias 
danced before the company, and so pleased Herod 
that he promised with an oath to give her ‘7hat- 
ever she asked for. So, prompted by her mother, 
the girl said, 

“Give me at once, upon a dish, the head of John 
the Baptist.” 


John’s Disciples Tell Jesus 


The king was displeased because of this, but be- 
cause of his oaths and his guests he ordered it to 
be given her. He sent and beheaded John in prison; 
the head was brought on a dish, and given to the 
young girl, who took it to her mother. Then John’s 
disciples went and removed his body, and came and 
told Jesus. 


Feeding Five Thousand 


When Jesus heard it he went away privately by 
boat to a lonely spot; but the crowds heard about 
it, and followed him on foot from the cities. So 
when he landed he saw a great multitude, and felt 
compassion for them, and healed their sick. As 
twilight fell, his disciples came to him and said: 

“This is a lonely spot, and the day is far spent; 
send the crowds away, so that they may go into 
the villages and buy themselves food.” 

“ They need not go away,” said Jesus, “do you, 
yourselves, give them something to eat.” 

“We have nothing here,” they replied, “ except 
five loaves and two fishes.” 

“ Bring them here to me,’ said Jesus. 

Then he told the people to sit down on the grass, 
and after taking the five loaves and the two tishes, 
he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he 
broke the loaves and handed them to the dis- 
ciples, and the disciples handed them to the crowds. 
And they all ate and were fully satisfied, and they 
took up of the fragments that remained, twelve 


46 ' 


21 


34 


35 


36 


MATTHEW 14 


basketfuls. Those who had eaten were about five 
thousand men, besides women and children. 


Walking on the Sea 


Then he made his disciples get aboard the boat 
and precede him to the other side, while he sent 
away the crowds. After he had sent the crowds 
away, he went up into the mountain alone, to pray. 
When night came he was there alone. But the 
boat was already a long way from shore, buffeted 
by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 

And in the fourth watch of the night he came 
toward them, walking upon the sea; but when the 
disciples saw him walking upon the sea, they were 
terrified. 

“It is a phantom,” they said, and cried out for 
fear. But at once Jesus spoke to them, 

“Courage,” he said, “it is I. Fear not.” 

Peter answered, “ Master, if it is you, bid me 
come to you upon the water.” 

“Come,” said Jesus. 

Then Peter got down from the boat and walked 
on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw the 
wind, he was afraid, and as he began to sink, he 
cried out, 

“Master, save me!” 

At once Jesus stretched out his hand and caught 
hold of him, saying to him: 

“O little faith! What made you doubt?” 

Then as they climbed into the boat the wind grew 
weary, and the men in the boat fell upon their 
knees before him, saying, 

“You are, indeed, the Son of God.” 


Miracles at Gennesaret 


Then they crossed over and came to land at Gen- 
nesaret; and when the men of that country recog- 
nized him, they sent into all the country round 
about, and brought to him all the sick, and kept 
begging him to let them but touch the tassel of his 
cloak—and all who touched were completely cured. 


Al 


i0 
11 


12 


13 
14 


MATTHEW 15 


XV 
WORDS OF WISDOM AND DEEDS OF POWER 


The Test, not Tradition but Obedience 


Then some Scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem 
came to Jesus, saying, 

“Why do your disciples keep transgressing the 
tradition of the elders by not washing their hands 
before eating? ” 

“And why do you also keep transgressing the 
command of God by your tradition?” he asked. 
“For God said, Honor your father and mother, 
and, Let him who reviles father or mother be put 
to death; * but you say that whoever tells his father 
or mother, ‘ Whatever of mine might have been of 
service to you is dedicated to God,’ is in no way 
bound to honor his father. Thus do you make void 
the word of God by your tradition! Hypocrites! 
Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you, saying: 
This is a people that honors me with their lips, 
But their heart is far from me. 

In vain do they worship me, 
While they teach doctrines that are the commands 
of men.” * 


Not Outward Circumstances but Inward State Matters 


Then Jesus called the people to him and said: ; 

“Listen, and pay attention. It is not what goes 
into a man’s mouth that defiles him, but what comes 
out of it, that defiles the man.” 

Then his disciples eame to him and said, “ Do 
you know that the Pharisees were scandalized when 
they heard that saying?” He replied: 

“Any plant that my heavenly Father has not 
planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They 
are blind men leading the blind; and if one blind 

1Hxod. 20 : 12, 

7Hxod seals Ls Deut. 21 gelowoke 

*Tsa: 29°13! 


42 


15 


16 
17 


18 
19 
20 


21 
22 


23 


24 
25 
26 
27 
28 


29 


MATTHEW 15 


man leads another, both of them will fall into a 
ditch.” 

Then Peter said to Jesus, “ Explain the parable 
to us.” 


Out of the Heart Are the Issues of Life 


He answered: 

* Are even you still without understanding? Do 
you not know how all that goes into the mouth 
passes into the stomach and is afterward evacuated; 
while what comes out of the mouth comes from 
the heart—and that is what defiles a man. For 
out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murder, 
adultery, unchastity, theft, perjury, slander. These 
are the things that defile a man; to eat with un- 
washed hands does not defile a man.” 


A Syro-phenician Mother’s Faith Rewarded 


Jesus then left that place, and withdrew into the 
region of Tyre and Sidon. Behold, there came to 
him a Canaanite woman of those parts. She wailed 
loudly, saying: 

“ Pity me, Lord, thou Son of David! My daugh- 
ter is possessed of an evil spirit.’ 

But he answered her not a word. Then the dis- 
ciples came up and kept beseeching him. ‘“ Send 
her away,” they said, ‘“ because she wails after us.” 

In reply he said, “I was not sent except to the 
lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ 

But the woman came and knelt to him and said, 
“Lord, do help me.” 

He answered, “It is not seemly to take the chil- 
dren’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” 

“ True, Lord,” she said, “ but even the little dogs 
eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” 

Then Jesus answered her: “O woman, great is 
your faith. It shall be for you even as you desire.” 

And from that hour her daughter was healed. 


The Lord of Life 


On leaving that place Jesus went along the shore 
of the Sea of Galilee; and after climbing a hill, took 


43 


MATTHEW 16 


30 his seat there. Great crowds came to him, bringing 
the crippled, the blind, the maimed, the dumb, and 
many others. They laid them at his feet and he 

31 healed them; so that the crowd wondered when 
they saw the dumb speaking, the cripples walking, 
and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God 
of Israel. 

32 But Jesus called his disciples to him and said: 


The Shepherd Feeds His Sheep 


‘““My heart yearns over the crowd, for they have 
een with me now three days, and they have noth- 
ing to eat. I am not willing to send them away 
hungry, for fear they may faint on the road.” 

33 “In a lonely place like this,’ asked the disciples, 
“where can we get bread enough to satisfy such 
a crowd?” 

34 “How many loaves have you?” answered Jesus. 

They replied, “‘ Seven, and a few small fish.’ 

35 So when he had summoned the crowd, and seated 

36 them upon the ground, he took the seven loaves 
and the fish, and gave thanks, then he broke them 
and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples 

o7 to the crowd. And all ate and were satisfied, and 
of the fragments that remained they gathered seven 

38 large basketfuls. And those who ate numbered four 
thousand, besides the women and children. 

59 When he had sent the crowds away, he got into 
the boat and came into the region of Magadan. 


XVI 
-THE CRISIS AT CAPERNAUM 


Discerning the Signs of the Times 


1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came to him, 
and in order to test him, asked him to show them a 

2 sign from heaven. In answer he said: 
“In the evening you say, ‘It will be fine weather, 
& for the sky is red as fire’; and at dawn you say, 
‘It will storm today, for the sky is red and lower- 


44 


MATTHEW 16 


ing.’ You know how to discern the look of the sky, 

4 but the signs of the times you cannot read. A 

wicked and faithless generation is seeking a sign, 

but no sign shall be given it but the sign of Jonah.” 
So he left them and went away. 


The Leaven of the Pharisees 


5 When his disciples reached the other side of the 
6 lake, they had forgotten to bring bread. Presently 
Jesus said to them, 
“Take heed and beware of the leaven of the 
Pharisees.” 
7 And they began discussing it among themselves, 
saying, . 
“It is because we did not bring any bread.” 


The Letter Kills, the Spirit Makes Alive 


8 When Jesus knew it he said: 
“Weaklings in faith! Why are you arguing 

9 among yourselves, because you have no bread? Do 
you not yet understand? Do you not remember 
the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many 

10 basketfuls you took up? Nor the seven loaves for 
the four thousand, and how many large basketfuls 

11 you took up? How is it that you do not perceive 
that I did not speak to you concerning bread? 
But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sad- 
ducees! ”’ 

12 Then they realized that he had not told them 
to beware of the leaven, but of the teaching of the 
Pharisees and Sadducees. 


Peter’s Great Confession 


13. When Jesus came into the neighborhood of Czsa- 

rea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 
“Who do people say that the Son of man is?” 

14. They replied, “ Some say ‘John the Baptist’; 
others, however, say that ‘He is Elijah’; others, 
‘Jeremiah,’ or ‘One of the Prophets.’ ” 

15 “And who do you say that I am?” he asked 
them. 


45 


16 


aye 
18 


19 


20 


21 


22 


23 


24 


25 
26 
27 


MATTHEW 16 


So Simon Peter answered, ‘“‘ You are the Christ, 
the Son of the living God.” 


The Church Built on a Rock 

“ Blessed are you, Simon, Son of Jonah,” said 
Jesus; “for flesh and blood have not revealed this 
to you, but my Father who is in heaven! More- 
over I say to you that you are Petros (a rock), and 
on this petra (rock) I will build my church, and 
the gates of Hades shall not prevail against her. 
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; 
and whatever you bind upon earth shall be bound 
in the heavens, and whatever you loose upon earth 
shall be loosed in the heavens.” 

Then he enjoined his disciples to tell no one that 
he was the Christ. 


Peter Reproves Jesus for Predicting His Death 


After this Jesus the Christ began to show his 
disciples how he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer 
many things at the hands of the elders and chief 
priests and Scribes, and be put to death, and on 
the third day be raised again. Then Peter tcok 
him aside and began to reprove him, saying: 

“God forbid, Master! That shall never befall 
you.” 

But he turned and said to Peter: 

“Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling- 
block to me, because you are not intent on what 
pleases God, but what pleases men.” 


Renouncing Self to Follow Christ 


Then Jesus said to his disciples: 

“If any man wishes to come after me, let him 
renounce self, take up his cross, and follow me. 
For he who wants to save his life will lose it; but 
whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 
What will it profit a man to gain the whole world 
and lose his soul? or what shall a man give in ex- 
change for his soul? For the Son of man is about 
to come in the glery of his Father, and his angels 
with him, and then will he reward each one in 


46 


MATTHEW 17 


28 accordance with his actions. Solemnly I tell you, 
some of those who are standing here shall not taste 
death, till they have seen the Son of man coming 
in his kingdom.” 


XVII 


FROM THE MOUNT OF VISION TO THE 
VALLEY OF TOIL 


The Transfiguration 


1 Six days later Jesus took with him Peter and 
James and his brother John, and led them up a 
2 high mountain, by themselves apart. Here he was 
transfigured before them; his face shone like the 
sun, and his garments became as white as the light. 

3 And behold! Moses and Elijah appeared to them, 
talking with Jesus. 

4. Then Peter said to Jesus: 

“ Master, it is good that we are here! If you are 
willing I will make here three tents, one for you, 
one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 

5 While he was yet speaking, behold! a luminous 
cloud overshadowed them; and a voice out of the 
cloud, saying: 

“This is my Son, my Beloved, in whom is my 
delight. Listen to him.” 

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their 

7 faces and were terrified. But Jesus came to them 
and touched them, saying, 

“Rise, have no fear! ” 

8 And when they raised their eyes they saw no one 

9 save Jesus only. While they were going down from 
the mountain, Jesus laid a command on them: 

“Speak to no man about the vision,” he said, 
“until after the Son of man has been raised from 
the dead.”’ 


Elijah and John, the Baptist 


10 And his disciples asked him, saying, 
“Why then do the Scribes say that Elijah must 
first come? ” 


AT 


11 
12 


14 
15 
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MATTHEW 17 


And he answered: 

“Elijah is coming, and will restore all things. 
Nay, I say to you that Elijah has come already, 
and they did not recognize him, but did to him 
whatever they chose. Even so the Son of man also 
is about to suffer at their hands.” 

Then the disciples divined that he had been speak- 
ing to them about John, the Baptist. 


The Epileptic at the Foot of the Mountain 


As they reached the crowd, a man came up to 
Jesus, and fell on his knees before him, saying: 

“Master, take pity on my son, for he is an epi- 
leptic and sore distressed. Often he falls into the 
fire and often into the water. And I brought him 
to your disciples, but they could not cure him.” 

In reply Jesus said: 

“© faithless and perverse generation, how long 
shall I be with you? How long shall I endure you? 
Bring him here to me!” ? 

Then Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, and it came 
out of him; and the boy was cured from that very 
hour. 


Faith’s Boundless Power 


Thereupon Jesus’ disciples came to him and asked 
him privately, 

“Why were we not able to cast it out?” 

“Because of your little faith,’ he answered. 
“In solemn truth I tell you that if you have faith 
the size of a mustard-seed, you can say to this 
mountain, ‘Move from this place to that!’ and it 
will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. 
But this kind is driven out by prayer alone.” 


Jesus’ Second Prediction of His Death 


As they continued going from place to place in — 
Galilee, Jesus said to them: 

“The Son of man is about to be betrayed into 
the hands of men; and they will kill him, but on 
the third day he will rise again.” 

And they were greatly grieved. 


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MATTHEW 18 


Paying the Temple Tax 


As they came into Capernaum the collectors of 
the temple tax came to Peter and asked, 

“Does not your Teacher pay the temple tax?” 

“Indeed he does,” answered Peter. 

But on Peter’s entering the house, Jesus fore- 
stalled him, saying: 

“ How does it seem to you, Simon? From whom 
do earthly kings collect customs or taxes—from 
their own people, or from aliens?” 

And when he replied, “‘ From aliens,” Jesus said: 

“Then their people go free. Nevertheless, that 
we may not give offense, go to the seaside, throw in 
your hook; take the first fish that rises, and when 
you have opened its mouth, you will find a shekel 
in it. Take it and give it to them for us both.” 


XVIII 


DISCOURSE ON HUMILITY AND 
FORGIVENESS 


Two LAWS OF THE KINGDOM 


Only the Childlike Enter the Kingdom 


At that hour his disciples came to Jesus and asked 
him, 

“Who is really greatest in the kingdom of 
heaven? ” 

When he had called a little child to him, Jesus 
set him among them, and answered: 

“In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn 
and become like little children, you will not even 
enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever therefore 
will humble himself like this little child, is greatest 
in the kingdom of heaven; and whoever receives 
one such little child for my sake, receives me. But 
whoever shall cause one of these little ones who 
believe in me to stumble, it would be better for 
him if a great millstone were hung about his neck, 
and he were drowned in the depths of the sea. 


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MATTHEW 18 


Better Maimed than Lost 


“Woe unto the world because of such stumbling- 
blocks! They will surely come, but woe unto each 
man by whom they come! If your hand or your 
foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it 
from you. It is better for you to enter into life 
maimed or crippled, than to keep both hands or 
both feet and be cast into the everlasting burning. 
If your eye keeps causing you to stumble, pluck it 
out and cast it from you. It is better for you to 
enter into life with only one eye, than to keep both 
eyes and be cast into the Gehenna of fire. 


The Children’s Guardian Angels 


““See to it that you never despise one of these 
little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels 
do always behold the face of my Father in heaven. 
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save 
that which was lost.’ 


The Lost Lamb 


‘How does it seem to you, when a man has a 
hundred sheep and loses one of them? Will he not 
leave the ninety and nine on the hills, to go and 
search for the one that has strayed? And if he 
succeeds in finding it, I tell you solemnly that he 
rejoices over it more than over the ninety and 
nine that never strayed away. Just so it is not the 
will of my Father in heaven that one of these little 
ones should perish. 


Dealing with an Erring Brother 


“If your brother sins against you, go and show 
him, between yourself and him alone. If he l'stens, 
you have won your brother. But if he will not 
listen to you, take one or two others along, so that 
by the testimony of two or three witnesses every 
word may be established. If he will not listen to 
them, tell the church; but if he will not heed the 
church, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax- 


1 Verse 11 is wanting in the best manuscripts. 


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MATTHEW 18 


gatherer. I tell you all in solemn truth that what- 
ever you forbid upon earth will be forbidden in 
heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be 
permitted in heaven.’ 


The Power of United Prayer 


“ And again I tell you that if two of you on 
earth symphonize your praying concerning anything 
for which you have asked, it shall be done for you 
by my Father in heaven. For wherever there are 
two or three gathered together in my name, there 
am I among them.” 


A Parable of Forgiveness 


Just then Peter came to him, and asked him, 

“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against 
me, and I forgive him? till seven times? ” 

“IT do not tell you ‘till seven times,’ ” answered 
Jesus, “but till seventy times seven. Thus the king- 
dom of heaven may be compared to a king who 
wished to settle accounts with his slaves. But when 
he began to settle, one of them was brought before 
him who owed him fifteen million dollars. And 
since he was unable to pay, his master ordered him 
to be sold, and his wife and children and all that 
he had, toward the payment of the debt. There- 
upon his slave threw himself on his knees before 
him, crying, 

“* Have patience with me, and I will pay you all!’ 

“So then the master pitied his slave, and let him 
go, and forgave him his debt. But on his way out, 
that slave met a fellow slave who owed him fifty 
dollars. Seizing him by the throat, and nearly 
choking him, he exclaimed, 

“¢ Pay me what you owe me!’ 

“Then his fellow slave fell at his feet, and be- 
sought him, saying, 

““Be patient with me, and I will pay you.’ 

“ But he would not; on the contrary he went and 
threw him into prison until he should pay the debt. 


Similar power was given to Peter also in Matthew 16 : 16. 


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MATTHEW 19 


When therefore his fellow slaves saw what had 
happened, they were very angry; and they went 
and explained to their master all that had hap- 
pened. Immediately his master summoned him and 
said: 

““ You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt 
because you implored me. Ought not you also to 
have had pity on your fellow slave, just as I had 
pity on you?’ 

“Then in hot anger his master handed him over 
to the torturers, until he should pay him all his 
debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you also, 
unless from your heart each one of you forgive his 
brother.” 


XIX 


QUESTIONS ABOUT DIVORCE AND ABOUT 
RICHES 


It came about after Jesus had finished these 
teachings, that he removed from Galilee, and went 
to that part of Judza which lay across the Jordan. 
A great multitude followed him, and he healed them 
there. 


The True Basis of Marriage 


Presently some of the Pharisees came up to him, 

and made test of him by asking, 

“Ts it right for a man to divorce his. wife for 
every cause? ” 

‘Have you not read,’ he answered, ‘that He 
who created them from the beginning made them 
male and female, and said, For this cause shall a 
man leave his father and his mother and shali 
cleave to his wife; and the two shall be one flesh? 
Thus they are no longer two, but one. Therefore 
what God has joined together, let not man separate.” 

They answered, “‘ Why then did Moses command 
the husband to give her ‘a written bill of divorce,’ 
and so to put her away? ” 

‘‘ Moses,” said Jesus, “ permitted you to divorce 


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MATTHEW 19 


your wives on account of the hardness of your 
hearts, but from the beginning it was not so. And 
I tell you that any man who divorces his wife for 
any: cause except her unfaithfulness, and marries 
another woman, commits adultery.” 

“If that is the position of a man in relation to 
his wife,” answered the disciples, “it is better not 
to marry.” 

He answered them: 

“Not all are accepting this teaching, but only 
those to whom it has been granted. For there are 
eunuchs who have been such from birth; others 
who have been made such by men; and others who 
have made themselves eunnchs for the sake of the 
kingdom of God. He who is able to receive this, let 
him receive it.” 


The Kingdom Belongs to the Childlike 


Then young’ children were brought to him, that 
he might lay his hands on them and pray. His dis- 
ciples interfered, but Jesus said to them: 

“Let the little children come to me, and forbid 
them not; for it is to the childlike that the kingdom 
of heaven belong's.” 

So he laid his hands upon them, and departed 
from that place. 


The Rich Young Ruler 


But look! a certain man came up to him and 
asked, 

“Teacher, what good thing shall I do to inherit 
eternal life? ” 

“ Why do you ask me about what is good?” asked 
Jesus. “ There is but One who is good. But if you 
want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 

“ Which commandments?” asked the man. 

Jesus replied: 

“Thou shalt not kill; Thou shalt not commit adul- 
tery; Thou shalt not steal; Thou shalt not bear 
false witness; Honor thy father and thy mother; 
and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” * 


PAHXOG 20s 12-1 Gre devel os ies 
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MATTHEW 19 


The young man answered: 

“TI have carefully kept them all. What yet do 
I lack?” 

“If you want to be perfect,” said Jesus, “ go, 
sell your property, give to the poor, and you will 
have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 

But when the young man heard this teaching, he 
went away sorrowful, for he was one who had much 
property. 


The Handicaps of Wealth 


So Jesus said to his disciples: 
“In solemn truth I tell you that a rich man will 
find it difficult to enter the kingdom of heaven. I 
tell you again, it is easier for a camel to go through 
the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter 
the kingdom of heaven.” 

When they heard this the disciples were utterly 
astounded. 

“Who then can be saved?” they exclaimed. 

Jesus looked at them: 

“‘ With men this is impossible,” he said, “‘ but with 
God all things are possible.” 


What Do We Get? 


Whereupon Peter said to Jesus: 
“Look, Master, we have forsaken everything and 
followed you. Now what shall be our reward? ” 


The Real Reward 


“In solemn truth I tell you,” Jesus answered, 
“that in the New Creation, when the Son of man 
shall sit on the throne of his glory, you also who have 
followed me shall sit on twelve thrones, to govern 
the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one who has 
left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or 
mother, or children, or lands, for my sake, shall 
receive many times as much, and fall heir to eter- 
nal life. But many who are first shall be last, and 
many who are last shall be first. 


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MATTHEW 20 


XX 


WAYSIDE TEACHINGS ON THE JERUSALEM 
ROAD 


Out of Work! An Old Evil 


“For the kingdom of heaven is like a hc useholder 
who went out at dawn to hire workmen for his 
vineyard. And when he had agreed with the work-~ 
men for two shillings a day, he sent them into his 
vineyard. About nine o’clock he went out and no- 
ticed some other workmen standing idle in the 
market-place; and he said to them, 

““ Do you also go into the vineyard, and whatever 
is just I will pay you.’ 

“* So they went. Again at noon, and about three 
o’clock, he went out and did the same thing. When 
he went out about five o’clock, he found others 
standing around, and said to them, 

““* Why have you been standing here idle, all the 
day long?’ 

““¢ Because no one has hired us,’ they replied. 

“He said to them, ‘ Do you also go into the vine- 
yard.’ 

“ And when evening came, the lord of the vine- 
yard said to his steward, 

“Call the workmen and pay them their wages, 
beginning with the last hired and ending with the 
first.’ 


Fair Reward for Honest Toil 


‘‘ When those came who had begun at five o’clock, 
they received two shillings apiece; and when the 
first came they supposed that they would get more, 
but they also received each two shillings. And as 
they took it they began to grumble against the 
master of the house: 

“«Those last men,’ they said, ‘have toiled only 
one hour, and you have made them equal to us who 
have borne the burden and the burning heat of the 
day.’ 

“In reply he said to one of them: ‘ My friend, I 


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MATTHEW 20 


am doing you no wrong. Did-you not agree with 
me for two shillings? Take your wage and begone! 
I chose to give to this last man the same as to you. 
Have I not the right to do what I choose with my 
own property? Or is your eye evil because I am 
generous?’ 

“So the last shall be first, and the first, last.” 


Third Prediction of His Death and Resurrection 


When Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, he 
took the Twelve aside by themselves, and as they 
went he said to them: 

“Look! We are on the way up to Jerusalem, and 
the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests 
and the scribes. They will condemn him to death, 
and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and 
scourged and crucified; and on the third day he will 
rise from the grave.” 


An Ambitious Mother Asks a Privilege for Her Sons 


Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebe- 
dee, with her sons, kneeling down and begging a 
favor of him. 

“ What is it you wish?” he said. 

She answered, “ Command that these my two sons 
may sit upon your right hand and your left in your 
kingdom.” 

“None of you know what you are asking,” said 
Jesus. “Can you drink the cup which I am about 
to drink?” 

“We can,” they replied. 

“My cup you indeed shall drink,” he answered, 
“but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not 
mine to grant, but belongs to those for whom it 
has been prepared by my Father.” 

When the ten heard of this, they were indignant 
at the two brothers; but Jesus called them to him 
and said:, 


Not to Be Served but to Serve 
“You know how the rulers of the Gentiles lord it 
over them, and their great men exercise authority 


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MATTHEW 21 


over them. Not so shall it be among you. But who- 
ever among you wishes to become great, shall be 
your minister, and whoever wishes to be first among 
you, shall be your slave; just as the Son of man 
came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and 
to give his life as a ransom for many.” 


Two Blind Men in Jericho 


Now as they were leaving Jericho a great crowd 
followed him. And two blind men, sitting by the 
side of the road, heard that it was Jesus who was 
passing by, and cried out, 

“Have pity on us, Master, Son of David! ” 

But the crowd checked them, to make them keep 
still. They cried out all the louder, saying, 

“Master, have pity on us, Son of David!” 

Then Jesus stopped and called to them, 

“What do you want me to do for you?” 

“ Master,” they answered, “let our eyes be 
opened.” 

Then Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their 
eyes, and they saw at once, and followed him. 


XXI 
THE PASSION WEEK 


SUNDAY, A DAY OF TRIUMPH 


“The Lord Needs Them ” 


And when they approached Jerusalem, and had 
reached Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, then 
Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them: 

“ Go on into the village facing you, and at once 
you will find an ass tied, and her colt with her. 
Loose them and bring them to me. And if any one 
says anything to you, tell him, ‘ The Master needs 
them,’ and he will send them without delay.” 

This happened in fulfilment of the word spoken 
through the prophet: 


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MATTHEW 21 


Say to the daughter of Zion, 

“Behold thy King cometh to thee, 

Gentle and sitting upon an ass, 

And upon a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.” ? 


The King Enters Jerusalem in Triumph 


So the disciples went and did as Jesus told them; 
they led back the ass and her colt, and placed 
their cloaks on them. Then Jesus seated himself 
upon them, and most of the crowd kept spreading 
their cloaks on the road, and others began cutting 
branches off the trees, and spreading them in the 
road. And the crowds who preceded and those who. 
followed after him shouted again and again, 


_“ Hosanna to the Son of David! 


Blessed be he who is coming in the name of the 
Lord!? 

Hosanna in the highest!” 

And as he came into Jerusalem, the whole city 
was stirred. 

“Who is this?” they said. 

And the crowds answered, ‘“‘ This is the Prophet 
Jesus, from Nazareth, in Galilee.” 


He Drives Profaners from the Temple 


Then Jesus entered into the Temple courts, and 
cast out all who were buying and selling there, and 
overturned the tables of the money-changers, and 
the seats of those who sold pigeons. ; 

“It is written,” he said, “My house shall be 
called a house of prayer, but you are making it a 
den of thieves.” * 


The Jealous Scribes Protest 


Then the blind and the lame came to him in the 
Temple courts, and he healed them. But when the 
chief priests and the Scribes saw the wonderful 


isa. Oe "1t"* Zech. Gs 3: 
2Ps, 118 : 96. 

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SPT CLH mee de 


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MATTHEW 21 


works he did, and the boys who were shouting in the 
Temple courts and saying, 

“ Hosanna to the Son of David! ”’ 
they asked him, “ Do you hear what they are say- 
ing? ” 

“‘ Surely,” said Jesus, “and have you never read, 
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast 
perfected praise? ’”’® 

So he left them and went outside the city, to 
Bethany, and spent the night there. 


MONDAY, A DAY OF AUTHORITY 


The Barren Fig Tree 


At dawn, when he was on his way back into the 
city, he was hungry; and when he saw a solitary 
fig tree beside the road, he went to it, but found 
nothing on it but leaves. And he said to it, 

“Let no man gather fruit from you forever.” 

And at once the fig tree withered away. 

When his disciples saw this, they were astonished. 

“How instantaneously,” they said, “the fig tree 
withered! ” 

In reply Jesus said to them, 


Faith’s Mysterious Might 


“In solemn truth I tell you that if you have 
faith and never doubt, you will not only do what 
has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say 
to this mountain, ‘Up, cast yourself into the sea!’ 
it shall be done; and everything that you ask for in 
your prayers you shall have, if you believe.” 


“By What Authority? ” 


When he had entered the Temple courts, and was 
teaching, the high priests and elders of the people 
came to him and asked him, 

“ By what authority are you doing these things, 
and who gave you this authority?” 


BPs. Si: 2 
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MATTHEW 21 


A Searching Question 


Jesus answered: “I also will put a question to you, 
which, if you tell me, I also will tell you by what 
authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism, 
whence was it, from heaven or from man?” 

So they began debating about it among them- 
selves: 

“If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘ Why 
then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, 
‘From men,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all 
regard John as a prophet.” 

So they answered Jesus, “ We do not know.” 

He said to them, “Nor am I going to tell you 
in what authority I do these deeds. 


I Go, Sir! I Go Not! 

“But give me your judgment. There was once a 
man who had two sons. He went to the first and 
said to him, 

“Son, go work today in my vineyard! ’ 

““T will go, sir,’ he answered; yet he did not go. 

“Then he went to the second, and said the same 
thing to him. 

“*T will not,’ he answered; but afterward he 
changed his mind and went. Which of these two 
did the will of his father? ” 

“ The last,” they replied. 


Publicans and Harlots Go in Before You 


“T tell you truly,” said Jesus, “that the tax- 
gatherers and harlots are going into the kingdom 
of heaven before you! For John came to you in 
the road of righteousness, and you did not give 
credence to him; but the tax-gatherers and the 
harlots gave credence to him. But you, although 
you saw this, did not even then change your minds 
and give credence to him. 

“ Listen to another parable: 


Parable of the Vine-dressers 
“A man who was a householder planted a vine- 
yard, fenced it about, dug a wine vat in it, built 


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MATTHEW 21 


a tower, and then rented it to vine-dressers and 
went abroad. When the time of fruit drew near, he 
sent his slaves to the vine-dressers to get his fruit. 
And the vine-dressers seized his slaves, flogged one, 
killed another, and stoned a third. Again he sent 
other slaves, a larger number than at first, and they 
treated them in the same way. And last he sent 
his son to them; ‘ Surely they will respect my son,’ 
he said. But when the vine-dressers saw his son, 
they said to themselves: 

“*This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and 
take his inheritance.’ 

“So they took him and cast him out of the vine- 
yard, and killed him. When therefore the lord of 
the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine- 
dressers? ” 

“He will utterly destroy those wretches,” they 
answered, “and will entrust his vineyard to other 
vine-dressers, who will pay back the fruits to him 
in their season.” ; 


The Stone Rejected Is Made the Corner-stone 


‘““Have you never read in the Scriptures,” Jesus 
answered, “ how 
“ The Stone that the builders rejected 
Has been made the corner-stone; 
This is the Lord’s doing, 
It is wonderful in our eyes? ° 

“T tell you that for this reason the kingdom of 
God will be taken away from you, and will be given 
to a nation that does produce the fruit of it. He 
who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; 
but he upon whom it falls will be scattered as 
dust.”’ 

As they listened to his parables, the chief priests 
and the Pharisees recognized that he was speaking 
about them; but altnough they longed to appre- 
hend him, they were afraid of the crowds, because 
they held him to be a prophet. 


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MATTHEW 22 


XXII - 
CHRIST AND HIS OPPONENTS 


Parable of the Wedding-feast 


Once more Jesus answered them in parables. 
“The kingdom of heaven,” he said, “may be com- 
pared to a king who made a wedding-feast for his 
son. He sent out his slaves to summon the invited 
guests to the feast, but they did not want to come. 
Again he sent out other slaves. ‘Tell the invited 
guests,’ he said, ‘that my luncheon is now ready; 
my oxen and fat cattle are killed; everything is 
ready; come to the wedding-feast.’ 

“They, however, paid no attention, but went off, 
one to his own farm, another to his business; while 
the rest seized his slaves and maltreated and mur- 
dered them. Then the king’s wrath was roused, and 
he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers, 
and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, 

““The wedding-feast indeed is ready, but the in- 
vited guests were not worthy. 

““So go out into the partings of the highways, 
and summon everybody you find there to the wed- 
ding-feast.’ 

“So those slaves went out into the roads, and 
gathered together all whom they found, good or 
bad, and the banquet-hall was filled with the guests. 


The Guest Without a Wedding Garment 


“Then the king came in to inspect his guests, and 
he discovered there 2 man who had not put on a 
wedding-garment. He said to him, 

“< Friend, how did you come in here without a 
wedding-garment? ’ 

“The man was speechless. . 

“Bind him hand and foot,’ said the king to his 
officers, ‘ and cast him into the outer darkness; there 
will be the wailing and the gnashing of teeth.’ 

“For there are many called, but few are chosen.” 


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MATTHEW 22 


TUESDAY, A DAY OF CONTROVERSY 
THREE ENSNARING QUESTIONS 


A Question About Tribute 


Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how 
they might ensnare him during conversation. So 
they sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians. 

“Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are 
honest, and that you are teaching the way of God 
in sincerity; and are not afraid of any one, for you 
do not court men’s favor. Give us your advice, 
then: Is it allowable to pay taxes to Cesar, or not? ”’ 

And Jesus, because he knew their malice, said: 

“ Hypocrites! Why are you tempting me? Show 
me the tribute money.” 

So they brought him a shilling. 

“Whose likeness and inscription is this?” he 
asked. 

“ Crsar’s,” they answered. 

Then he said to them, 

‘“ Render unto Cesar the things that are Cesar’s, 
and unto God the things that are God’s.” 

When they heard this they were astonished, and 
left him and went away. 


A Question About the Resurrection 


That very day there came to him some Sadducees, 
who say there is no resurrection: and they ques- 
tioned him. 

‘“ Master,” they said, ‘‘ Moses taught that if a man 
dies without issue, his brother is to marry the 
widow, and raise up a family for his brother. 
Now there were of our number seven brothers; 
and the first married and died. As he had no 
children, he left his wife to his brother; in the same 
way the second also died, and the third, unto the 
28 seventh. Last of all the woman died. In the 
resurrection, then, whose wife will she be? They 
all had her.” 

In answer Jesus said: 


63 


MATTHEW 22 


“You err because you do not know the Scriptures, 

_ 380 nor the power of God. For in the resurrection men 
do not marry, nor are women given in marriage, 

31 but they are like angels in heaven. But concerning 
the resurrection of the dead, did you never read 
what was spoken to you by God, 

32 “Iam the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, 
and the God of Jacob?* 
God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 

83 And when the crowds heard it, they were aston- 
ished at his teaching. 

34 As soon as the Pharisees heard that Jesus had 
silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves to- 

35 gether, and one of them, a lawyer, tested him by 
asking a question: 


A Question Regarding the Great Commandment 


06 ‘Master, which is the great commandment in the 
law?” 
37 ~=Jesus answered, 
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy 
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind2 
38,39 This is the great and first commandment. The 
second, which is like it, is this, 
“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.® 
40 On these two commandments hang the whole law 
and the prophets.” 


Christ Questions About David’s Son 


41 Now while the Pharisees were together, Jesus 
put this question to them: 
42 “What is your opinion concerning the Christ? 
Whose Son is he? ” 
“ David’s,” they answered. 
43 “How then,” he said, “does David in the Spirit 
call him Lord, saying, 
44 “The Lord said unto my Lord, 
Sit thou on my right hand 
Until I put thine enemies beneath thy feet? * 


1Hxod. 3: 16. 8Ley. 19 : 18. 
“Deut. Gy bd. £PsAyvro Sesk 


64 


45 
4G 


coh = 


13 


MATTHEW 23 


“Tf David calls him Lord, how can he be his 
Son? ” 

No one could answer him a word, nor did any 
one dare from that day to ask him another question. 


XXIII 
SEVENFOLD WOES UPON THE PHARISEES 


The Pharisees Seek Power and Place 


Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples: 

“The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat; 
therefore do and observe whatever they bid you; 
but do not do as they do, for they preach, but do 
not practise. For they bind heavy burdens and lay 
them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves will 
not lift a finger to move them. For they do all their 
good deeds to be gazed on of men. They widen their 
phylacteries, and lengthen the tassels, and are fond 
of the best places at banquets, and the front seats 
in the synagogues. They enjoy salutations in the 
market-places, and to have men call them ‘ Rabbi.’ 


But Christ’s Men Must Serve 


“But you are not to be called ‘ Rabbi’; for one 
is your Teacher, and you are all brothers; and 
call no one ‘Father’ on earth, for One is your 
Father in heaven. And call no one ‘ Leader,’ be- 
cause One is your Leader, even the Christ. Who- 
ever is great among you shall be your minister; 
whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and he 
who humbles himself shall be exalted. 


I 


The Seven Woes Upon the Pharisees 


“ But woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 
crites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s 
faces; for you do not enter, yourselves, nor do you 
permit those who are about to come in, to enter.’ 


1 Verse 14 is wanting in the oldest manuscripts. 


65 


15 


25 


26 


MATTHEW 23 


II 


“Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 
crites! For you scour sea and land to make one 
proselyte, and when he is gained, you make him 
twofold more a son of hell than you are, yourselves. 


Ill 


“Woe unto you, blind guides, who say, If any 
one swears by the Sanctuary, it is nothing, but if 
any one swears by the gold of the Sanctuary, the 
oath is binding. You fools and blind; for which is 
greater, the gold, or the Sanctuary which hallows 
the gold? You say, too, that whoever swears by 
the altar, it is nothing, but whoever swears by the 
offering that is upon it, his oath is binding. You 
blind! Which is greater, the offering or the altar 
which hallows the offering? He then, who swears 
by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; 
and he who swears by the Sanctuary swears by it 
and by Him who dwells therein; and he who swears 
by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by 
Him who sits thereon. 


IV 


“Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 
crites! For you tithe mint and anise and cummin, 
and neglect the weightier matters of the Law— 
justice and mercy and good faith; these latter you 
ought to have done, and not to have left the former 
undone. You blind guides! who strain out the gnat 
and swallow the camel! 


Vv 


“Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 
crites! For you clean the outside of the cup and 
the plate, but within they are filled with extortion 
and excess. You blind Pharisee, first clean the in- 
side of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside 
of it may be clean also. 


66 


27 


28 


29 


350 


31 


32 
33 


34 


35 


oT 


38 
39 


MATTHEW 23 


Vi 
“Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 
crites! You are like white-washed sepulchers. 
They look beautiful without, but within they are 
filled with dead men’s bones and all rottenness. 
Just so you also outwardly appear to men, just, but 
within you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. 


VII 

“Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 
crites! You rebuild the tombs of the prophets, and 
adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, 

“““Tf we had lived in the days of our fathers, we 
would not have been their comrades in the murder 
of the prophets.’ 

“So you bear witness against yourselves, that 
you are the descendants of those who slew the 
prophets! Fill up then the measure of your fathers! 
You serpents! You viper’s brood! How shall you 
escape the judgment of hell? 


A Guilty Generation 


“For this cause, behold! I am sending you 
prophets and wise men and scribes. Some of them 
you will kill and crucify; some of them you will 
scourge in your synagogues, and pursue from city 
to city; that upon your heads may come every 
drop of innocent blood spilt upon the earth, from 
the blood of Abel, the just, to the blood of Zech- 
ariah the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered 
between the Sanctuary and the altar. In solemn 
truth I tell you that all these things will come upon 
this generation. 


Lament Over Jerusalem 


“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, murdering the prophets, 
and stoning those who have been sent to you! How 
often would I have gathered your children together, 
as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and 
you would not! Behold, your house is left to you 
desolate! For I tell you that never shall you see 
me again until you say, 


67 


1 


10 


MATTHEW 24 


“ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ? 


[Following this final outburst of solemn anger, 
Jesus withdrew from the city with the close of 
Tuesday, and spent Wednesday in retirement, per- 
haps at Bethany. | 


2Ps, 118 : 26. 


XXIV 


THURSDAY: A DAY OF PROPHECY AND 
FELLOWSHIP 


THE GREAT ADDRESS ON THE END OF THE AGE 


Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple 


Then Jesus left the Temple courts and was walk- 
ing away, when his disciples came to point out to 
him the Temple buildings. 

“You see all these buildings? ” he answered them; 
“I tell you solemnly that there shall not be left here 
one stone upon another, that shall not be torn down.” 

When he had seated himself on the Mount of 
Olives, his disciples came to him privately, saying, 

“Tell us, when will these things happen, and 
what will be the sign of your coming, and of the 
end of the age?” 


Jesus Predicts Wars and Persecutions 


“Take care,” Jesus answered, “that no one mis- 
lead you; for many will come in my name saying, 
“I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. And you 
will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see to it 
that you are not afraid. Such things must happen, 
but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against 
nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there 
will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 
All these things are the beginning of birth-pangs. 

“Then they will deliver you up to suffer afflic- 
tion, and will put you to death, and you will be 
hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then 


we ARSE aL QP. 
68 


12 


13 


15 


16 
17 


18 
19 


20 
21 


22 


MATTHEW 24 


many will stumble and fall,? and will betray one 
another, and hate one another. Many false prophets 
will rise up and mislead many; and because of 
the increase of iniquity the love of the majority 
will grow cold; but he who endures to the end will 
be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall 
be proclaimed throughout the whole inhabited earth, 
for a testimony to the Gentiles, and then will come 
the end. 


Predicts End of the Age 


“ So when you see the Abomination of Desolation 
spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the 
holy place [let the reader take note of this], then 
let those who are in Judza flee to the mountains; let 
him who is upon the housetop not go down to get 
the things in his house, and the man in the field 
not turn back to get his cloak. Alas for the 
women who are with child, and for the nursing 
mothers in those days! 

“But pray that your flight may not be in the 
winter; nor on a Sabbath; for then shall be a time 
of great tribulation, such as has not been from 
the beginning of the world until now, no, and never 
shall be again. And if these days had not been 
shortened, no flesh would have been saved; but for 
the elect’s sake these days will be cut short. 


The Coming of the Christ 


“Tf at that time any one should say to you, ‘ See, 
here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ believe him 
not. For false christs and false prophets will arise, 
and will work great signs and wonders, so as to 
mislead, if it were possible, the very elect. See, I 
have forewarned you! So if they say to you, 

“¢ See, He is in the desert,’ do not go out there. 

“¢ See He is in the inner room,’ do not believe it. 
For just as the lightning flashes from the east, and 
is seen even to the west; so will be the coming of the 
Son of man. Wherever the corpse lies, there will 
the vultures flock together. 


2igia Sez tho. 
69 


29 


30 


31 


32 
38 
34 


35 


36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 


42 


MATTHEW 24 


The Son of Man in the Clouds 


“ But immediately after the tribulation of those 
days, 
“ The sun will be darkened, 

The moon will not shed her light, 

The stars will fall from the sky, 

And the powers of the heavens will be shaken.* 

“Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in 
the sky; and then all the tribes of earth will 
lament, when they see the Son of man coming upon 
the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 
And he will send forth his angels with a great 
sound of a trumpet, and they will gather his elect 
together from the four winds, from utmost heaven 
to utmost earth. 


To Happen in the Present Generation 


“Learn from the fig tree, her parable; when her 
branches are become soft, and put forth leaves, you 
know that summer is near; so you also, when you 
see these signs, know that He is near, at the very 
doors. I tell you in solemn truth, that the present 
generation shall not pass away till all these things 
happen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my 
words will not pass away. 


The Hour and Day Unknown 


‘But no one knows about that day and hour, not 
even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only 
the Father. And as were the days of Noah, so will 
be the coming of the Son of man. For just as in 
the days before the deluge they were eating and 
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until © 
the very day when Noah entered the ark, nor did 
they know until the deluge came and swept them 
away; so will be the coming of the Son of man. 
At that time there will be two men in the field; 
one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women 
will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and 
the other left. Keep guard then, for you do not 


ST Sq. alo. EO S42 us! 
70 





1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 


7 
8 


MATTHEW 25 


know the day on which your Master is coming. 
But know this, that if the master of the house had 
known in what watch the thief was coming, he 
would have been on his guard, and would not have 
allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you 
also must be ready, for in an hour when you de 
not expect him, the Son of man is coming. 


The Faithful Slave Watches 


“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent slave, to 
whom his master has entrusted his household, to 
give them their food in due season? Blessed is that 
slave whom his Master, when he comes, shall find 
so doing. In solemn truth I tell you that he will 
set him over all his property. But if, because he is 
a bad slave, he should say to himself, ‘My Master 
is a long time in coming,’ and if he begins to beat 
his fellow slaves, and to eat and drink with the 
drunkards, on a day when he is not expecting him, 
and at an hour which he does not know, the Master 
of that servant will arrive and will scourge him 
severely, and allot him a place among hypocrites, 
where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 


XXV 


THREE PARABLES OF FINAL DESTINY 


Parable of the Ten Virgins 


“Then will the kingdom of heaven be likened to 
ten maidens who took their lamps and went out to 
meet the bridegroom and the bride. And five of 
them were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish 
took their lamps, but took no oil with them; but the 
wise took oil in their flasks with their lamps. Now 
because the bridegroom tarried, they all fell to nod- 
ding and went on sleeping. But at midnight there 
arose a cry, 

“““ Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to meet him!’ 

“Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their 
lamps; and the foolish said to the wise, 


71 


10 


11 


12 


13 


14 


15 


16. 


17 
18 


19 
20 


21 


22 


MATTHEW 25 


““* Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are 
going out.’ 

‘“** Not so,’ answered the wise, ‘for there may not 
be enough for you and for us. Go to the shops, 
rather, and buy some for yourselves.’ 

“And while they were going away to buy, the 
bridegroom came; and those who were ready went 
in with him to the wedding-feast. And the door 
was shut. Afterwards the other maidens came and 
cried, 

“* Lord, Lord, open unto us!’ 

“*Tn solemn truth I tell you,’ he replied, ‘I know 
you not.’ 

“Be watchful then, for you know neither the day 
nor the hour. 


Parable of the Talents 


“For it is like a man going into another country, 
who summoned his slaves, and committed his prop- 
erty to their care. To one he gave five talents, to 
another two, and to another, one—to each accord- 
ing to his individual ability—and then set out on 
his travels. At once the man who had received 
the five talents went out and traded with them, and 
made five talents more. In the same way the one 
who got two talents made another two. But he 
who had received the one talent went off, and dug 
a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. 

“ After a long time the master of those slaves 
came, and demanded a reckoning with them. The 
man who had received the five talents came, bring- 
ing five more, and said: 

“¢ Master, five talents you entrusted to me; see, I 
have gained five more.’ 

““* Well done, good and faithful slave,’ replied his 
master; ‘ You have been faithful over a few things, 
I will set you over many things. Enter into your 
master’s joy.’ 

“The second, who had received the two talents, 
came up and said: 

“<¢ Master, it was two talents that you entrusted 
to me; see, I have gained two more.’ 


72 





MATTHEW 25 


23 “* Well done, good and faithful slave,’ his mas- 
ter replied, ‘ You have been faithful over a few 
things, I will set you over many things; enter into 
your master’s joy.’ 

24 ‘Then the man who had received the one talent 
came up and said: 

“< Master, I knew you were a hard man, reaping 
where you had not sown, and gathering where you 
25 had not scattered; so I was afraid; I went away 
and buried your talent in the earth. There, you 
have what belongs to you!’ 

26 “You wicked and lazy slave,’ said his master. 
‘You say you knew that I reap where I have not 
sowed, and gather where I have not scattered? 

27 Then you ought to have deposited my money with 
the bankers, and at my coming I should have re- 

28 ceived back my property with interest. So take 
away the talent from him, and give it to the man 

29 who has ten talents. (For to every one who has, 
it shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but 
from him who has not shall be taken away even 

80 what he has.) But cast out the worthless slave 
into the outer darkness; there will be the weeping 
and the gnashing of teeth.’ 


The Final Judgment 


81 “But when the Son of man comes in his glory, 
and all the angels with him, then will he take his 

82 seat on the throne of his glory; and all the nations 
will be gathered in his presence. And he will 
separate them one from another, as a shepherd 

83 divides his sheep from the goats; and he will place 
the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his 
left. , 


Not Creeds, but Deeds 


34 “Then he, the King, will say to those on his right 
hand: 
“¢ Come, my Father’s blessed ones, inherit the 
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of 
85 the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me 
food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was 


73 


36 


37 
38 
39 
40 


os 


45 


46 


MATTHEW 26 


a stranger, and you took me in; I was naked, and 
you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; 
I was in prison, and you came to see me.’ 

“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying: 
‘Master, when did we see you hungry and feed 
you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we 
see you a stranger and take you in; or naked and 
clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison, 
and come to see you?’ 

“““In solemn truth I tell you,’ the King will an- 
swer them, ‘ that inasmuch as you have done it unto 
one of the least of these, my brothers, you have 
done it unto me.’ 


The Fatal Lack of Vision 


“Then he will say to those also at his left hand: 
‘Depart from me, accursed ones, into the eternal 
fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I 
was hungry, and you gave me no food; I was thirsty, 


.and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and 


you took me not in; naked, and you clothed me not; 
sick, or in prison, and you visited me not.’ 

“Then will they also answer, ‘ Master, when did 
we ever see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or 
naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to 
you?’ 

“But he will reply, ‘In solemn truth I tell you 
that inasmuch as you did not do it unto one of these 
least, you did not do it unto me.’ 

“And these will go away into eternal punish- 
ment; but the righteous into eternal life.” 


XXVI 
THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS PASSION 


Fourth Prediction of His Death 


Now it happened that after Jesus had finished 
all these discourses, he said to his disciples, 
“You know that the Passover is coming in two 


74 


nay 


6 
7 


[e.e) 


12 
13 


14 
15 


PEL6 


MATTHEW 26 


days, and the Son of man will be delivered up. to 
be crucified.” 


The Plot to Murder Him 


Then the chief priests and the elders of the peo- 
ple met together in the court of the palace of the 
high priest who was called Caiaphas, and they 
plotted together to get Jesus into their power by a 
trick, and to put him to death; but said they, 

“Not during the feast, for fear of causing a riot 
among the people.” 


Breaking the Alabaster Vase of Costly Perfume 


While Jesus was staying in Bethany, in the house 
of Simon the Leper, a woman came up to him who 
had an alabaster vase of very costly perfume, and 
poured it over his head, as he reclined at table, 
When the disciples saw it, they were indignant, 
and exclaimed: 

“Why is this waste? This perfume could have 
been sold for a good sum, and the money given to 
the poor.” 

But when Jesus understood it he said to them: 

“ Why are you annoying the woman? This is a 
beautiful deed she has done for me; for the door 
you have with you always, but me you will not 
always have. In pouring this perfume on my body, 
she was preparing me for my burial. In solemn 
truth I tell you that wherever this gospel shall be 
preached in the whole world, what she has done 
shall be told about, as her memorial.” 


Judas’ Act of Treachery 

It was then that one of the Twelve, he who was 
called. Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and 
said, 

“ What are you ready to give me for betraying 
him to you?” 

So they weighed him thirty pieces of silver; * 
and from that time he kept looking for a chance to 
betray him. 


L Zech. IP 3°12. 
75 


17 


18 


25 


26 


27 
28 
29 


MATTHEW 26 


Making Ready the Passover 


On the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread, 
the disciples came to Jesus and said, 

“Where do you want us to make preparation for 
you to eat the Passover? ” 

“Go into the city,” he answered, “to a certain 
man, and tell him: 

““The Teacher says: “My time is near. I am 
going to keep the Passover at your house, with my 
disciples.” ’ ” 


Jesus Points Out His Betrayer 


The disciples did as Jesus told them, and :1ade 
ready the Passover. 

When evening came he reclined at table with the 
Twelve; and as they were eating, he said to them, 

“In solemn truth I tell you that one of you is 
going to betray me! ” 

In deep distress they began to ask him, each in 
turn, “It is not I, is it, Master? ” 

In reply he said: 

“One who has dipped his hand with me in the 
dish will betray me. The Son of man is indeed to 
go as it is written concerning him, but woe to that 
man by whom the Son of man shall be betrayed. 
It were good for that man if he had never been 
born.” 

In answer, Judas, who betrayed him, said, 

“ Surely it is not I, Rabbi? ” 

He said to him, “Is it not? ” 


The Lord’s Supper 


And as they were eating, Jesus took bread and, 
when he had blessed it, he broke it and gave to his 
disciples, saying, 

“Take, eat, this is my body.” 

And when he had taken the cup and given thanks, 
he gave it to them, saying: 

“ Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood 
of the Covenant, which is poured out for many 
for the forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, I 


76 


30 
ol 


32 
33 
34 


30 


36 


40 


MATTHEW 26 


will never again drink of this fruit of the vine, until 
that day when I drink it new with you in the 
kingdom of my Father.” 

So after singing a hymn, they went out to the 
Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them: 


“ Though All Deny Thee, I Will Not” 


“This very night even you will all stumble and 
fall away from me; for it is written, 

“T will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the 
flock will be scattered. 

But after I am raised up I will go before you into 
Galilee.” 

“If they all stumble and fall away from aay is 
answered Peter, “I will never do so!” 

Jesus said to him, 

“In solemn truth I tell you that on this very 
night, before cockcrow, you will deny me three 
times! ” 

But Peter said to him, 

“Even if I must: die with you, I will never deny 
you. ”? 

And so said all the disciples. 


Gethsemane 


Then Jesus went with them to a place called 
Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, 

“Sit down here, while I go and pray yonder.” 

And he took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee 
with him, and began to be in anguish and sore dis- 
tress, and he said to them: 

“My soul is in anguish, even unto death! Stay 
here, and keep watch with me.” 

Then he went forward a short distance, and fell 
on his face and prayed: 

“O, my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass 
from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou 
wilt.” 

Then he came to his disciples, and found them 
asleep, and said to Peter: 


2Z7eCchaL ons ts 
17 


41 


42 


43 


44 
45 


46 


47 


48 
49 


50 


51 


MATTHEW 26 


“So you were none of you strong enough to 
watch with me even one hour! Watch and pray 
that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit 
indeed_is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 

Then he went away again a second time and 
prayed, saying, “O, my Father, if this cup cannot 
pass except I drink it, Thy will be done.” 

He came again and found them sleeping, for their 
eyes were heavy. So hv left them and went away 
again, and prayed the third time in the same 
words as before. Then he came to the disciples 
and said: 

“Sleep on now, and take your rest. Look! the 
hour is at hand; the Son of man is betrayed into 
the hands of wicked men. Rouse yourselves! Let 
us go. My betrayer is close at hand! ” 


The Betrayer Comes 


Barely had he spoken these words when Judas, 
one of the Twelve, appeared, accompanied by a 
great crowd of men with swords and staves, from 
the chief priests and elders of the people. Now 
his betrayer had given them a sign, saying: “ Who- 
ever I kiss is the man; arrest him.” So he came 
straight up to Jesus and said, 

“Hail, Rabbi! ” and kissed him eagerly. 

“Friend, do that for which you came,” said 
Jesus. 


Peter’s Sword-stroke 


Then they came forward and laid hands on Jesus, 
and arrested him. And, behold, one of those who 
were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew 
his sword, and smote the slave of the high priest, 
and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him: 

“Put back your sword into its place! for all who 
take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you 
not suppose that I am able to appeal to my Father 
to furnish me at this very moment with twelve 
legions of angels? But if I did, how could the 
Scriptures be fulfilled that say that thus it must 
happen? ” 


78 


=a 





MATTHEW 26 


The Arrest and Desertion 


55 Then Jesus said to the crowds: 
“Are you come out as against a robber, with 
swords and staves to arrest me? Day after day, 
I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did 
56 not apprehend me. But all this has happened in 
order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.” 


Peter Follows Afar Off 


57 Then all his disciples forsook him and fled; but 
those who had apprehended Jesus led him away to 
Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and 

58 the elders had assembled. Now Peter was follow- 
ing him, afar off, as far as the courtyard of the 
high priest; and when he got in, he was sitting with 
the officers, to see the end. 


The Night Examination 


59 And the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin 
| were trying to get false evidence against Jesus, in 
| 60 order that they might have him executed; but they 
found none, although many false witnesses came 
61 forward. However, at last two came forward who 
. said, 
“This fellow declared, ‘I can destroy the Temple 
. of God and build it in three days.’”’ 
| 62 Rising to his feet the high priest asked Jesus: 
| “Do you make no answer? What is it that these 
are testifying against you?” 


Jesus Put Under Oath 


' 68 But Jesus kept silence. Again the high priest ad- 
dressed him, 

“T adjure you by the Living God, tell us if you 
| are the Christ, the Son of God!” 
64 “Tam He,” Jesus answered; “yet I tell you that 
| from this time on you will see the Son of man sit- 
ting at the right hand of Power, and coming upon 
i the clouds of heaven.” * 
| 65 Then the high priest tore his garments, saying: 


Perro.’ to Dan. 7° 13. 
79 


MATTHEW 27 


“He has spoken blasphemy! What further need 
have we of witnesses? For behold, now you have 
66 heard his blasphemy! What is your verdict? ” 
“He ought to die,” they answered. 
67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; 
and some struck him with the palms of their hands, 
68 and cried: “ Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it 
who struck you?” 


Peter’s Denial 


69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, 
and one of the maidservants came up to him and 
said, 

“You also were with Jesus, the Galilean! ” 

70 But he denied it before them all; “I do not know 
what you mean,” he said. 

TA. Soon afterward he went out into the porch, and 
another maid saw him, and said to those who were 
there, 

“This fellow certainly was with Jesus, the Naza- 
rene! ” . 
72 And again he denied it with an oath, saying, © 
“T never knew the man.” 

73 <A little later the bystanders came up and said to 
Peter, 

“You also are certainly one of them, for your 
speech betrays you.” 

74 Then he began to curse and swear, saying, 

“T never knew the man.” 
Immediately the cock crew! 

75 Then Peter recalled the word that Jesus had 
spoken, “Before the cock crow, you shall three 
times deny me”—and he went out and broke out 
into bitter weeping. 


XXVII 


FRIDAY: THE DAY OF CRUCIFIXION 


Trial Before Pilate 


1 And when the morning came, all the chief priests 
and the elders of the people took counsel against 


80 


2 


3 


10 


fii 


12 





14 


MATTHEW 27 


Jesus, how they might pwt him to death. After 
they had bound him, they led him away, and handed 
him over to Pilate, the Roman Governor. 


The Remorse of Judas 


Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that he was 
condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty 
pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. 

“I have sinned,” he said, “in betraying innocent 
blood! ” | 

“What is that to us? ” they answered; “ you must 
see to that.” 

And flinging down the silver into the Sanctuary, 
he rushed out, and went and hanged himself. 

The chief priests took the money, and said, “It 
would be wrong to put it into the temple-treasury, 
because it is the price of blood.” 

So after consultation they bought the Potter’s 
Field with it, for a burial-place for strangers. That 
is the reason why, to this day, the field is called 
“The Field of Blood.” 

Then was fulfilled the word spoken by the prophet 
Jeremiah: 

And I took the thirty pieces of silver, the price 
of him who had been priced, whom certain of the 
Children of Israel had priced; and gave them for 
the Potter’s Field, as the Lord had appointed me.* 


Pilate Questions Jesus 


Now Jesus stood before the Governor, and the 
Governor questioned him. 

‘* Are you the King of the Jews?” he asked. 

“Tt is as you say,” answered Jesus; but while® 
he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, 
he answered nothing. 

Then Pilate said to him, 

“ Do you not hear what they are testifying against 
you? ” 

But he made no answer, not even to one charge; 
insomuch that the Governor was greatly astonished. 


1Z7ech. 11 : 13. 
81 


15 


16 
17 


18 


19 


20 
21 


23 


a4 


MATTHEW 27 


Pilate Questions the Sanhedrin 


Now it was the Governor’s custom, during the 
Passover, to release to the people any one prisoner 
whom they selected. At that time they had a 
notorious prisoner named Barabbas. So when they 
had assembled, Pilate said to them, 

“Whom do you want me to release to you, Barab- 
bas, or Jesus who is called Christ? ” 

He knew well that it was because of enmity that 
they had brought Jesus before him. 


Pilate’s Wife Has a Dream 


And while he was seated upon the judgment-seat, 
his wife had sent to him, saying, 

“Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for 
I have suffered many things today, in a dream, be- 
cause of him.” 


Release of Barabbas 


But the chief priests and the elders urged the 
crowds to ask for Barabbas, and to destroy Jesus. 
So when Pilate said to them, “ Which of the two 
do you want me to release unto you?” they said, 

“ Barabbas.”’ 

And Pilate asked, 

“What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called 
Christ? ” 

With one voice they shouted, 

“Let him be crucified! ” 

But Pilate said, 

“Why, what evil has he done?” 

But they kept shouting the more fiercely, 

“Let him be crucified! ” . 


Jesus Sentenced 

So when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing 
nothing, but that on the contrary a riot was threat- 
ening, he took water and washed his hands in the 
presence of the crowd, saying: 

“I am innocent of the blood of this man; you 
must answer for it.” 


82 


25 
26 


30 
31 


38 


39 
40 


MATTHEW 27 


All the people answered, 

‘‘ His blood be upon us and upon our children.” 

Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus 
he scourged, and delivered to be crucified. 


The Scarlet Robe and Crown of Thorns 


Then the soldiers of the Governor took Jesus into 
the Pretorium, and gathered all the battalion to- 
e@ether. They stripped him and put on him a scar- 
let robe. And they twisted a thorny crown for him, 
and put it on his head, and placed a reed in his 
right hand. Then they knelt before him, in mockery, 
crying, 

“Hail, King of the Jews!” 

And they spit upon him, and took the reed and 
struck him on the head, again and again. At last, 
when they had finished their mocking, they took the 
robe off, and put his own garments on him, and led 
him away to crucify him. 


Simon Carries the Cross 


And as they went out they found a man of Cyrene, 
Simon by name, whom they compelled to go with 
them to carry his cross. And when they came to a 
place called Golgotha (the word means “ Place of a 
Skull ”), they gave Jesus wine to drink. mingled 
with gall. But after tasting it he refused te drink it. 
After crucifying him, they parted his garments 
among them by casting lots. Then they sat and 
watched him there. They also placed above his 
head his accusation written, 


THIS IS JESUS 
THE KING OF THE JEWS 


The Two Thieves 


At that time two robbers, also, were crucified 
with him; one on his right hand, the other on his 
left. 

Those who passed by, reviled him, wagging their 
heads and saying: 


83 


41 


42 


43 


44 


45 
46 


AT 
48 
49 


50 
51 


52 
53 


54 


MATTHEW 27 


“You who were going to destroy the Temple and 
build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the 
Son of God, come down from the cross! ” 


The Chief Priests Revile Him 


In like manner the chief priests, too, with the 
Scribes and elders, kept taunting him: 

“He saved others,” they said, ‘“‘ himself he cannot 
save. He, the King of Israel! Let him now come 
down from the cross, and we will believe on him! 
He put his trust in God: let Him deliver him now, 
if He cares for him. For he said, ‘I am the Son 
of God!’ ” 

In the same way the robbers also who were being 
crucified with him, kept reviling him. 


“ Immanuel’s Orphaned Cry ” 


Now from noon darkness fell upon the whole land, 
until three o’clock in the afternoon. But at three 
o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 

“Eli, Hi, Lama Sabachthani?” (That is to 
say, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken 
me? ’”’) 

When they heard this, some of the bystanders said, 

“He is calling for Elijah! ” 

At once, one of them ran, and took a sponge, and 
filling, it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave 
him to drink. But the rest said: 

“Let pe! Let us see whether Elijah is coming to 
save him! ” 


Surely This Was God’s Son 


And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and 
yielded up his spirit. And lo, the veil of the sanc- 
tuary was torn in two, from the top to the bottom; 
the earth quaked; the rocks split; the tombs were 
opened, and many bodies of the saints who had 
fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth out 
of the tombs, after his resurrection, they went into 
the holy city and appeared to many. 

When the Roman captain and the soldiers who 


84 





55 
56 


62 


638 
64 


65 
66 


MATTHEW 27 


were with him, guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake 
and all that happened, they were greatly terrified, 
and said, 

“ Certainly this man must have been God’s Son.” 


Friends Provide a Tomb 


And there were present several women who were 
looking on from a distance; they had followed 
Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him: among 
them being Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of 
James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s 
sons. 

When it was eventide, there came a rich man of 
Arimathea, named Joseph, who was himself a dis- 
ciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked 
for the body of Jesus. Pilate then commanded that 
it be given over to him. So Joseph took the body, 
and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in 
his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock; 
and after rolling a great stone against the opening 
of the tomb, he went away. And Mary Magdalene 
was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the 
tomb. 


Vain Precautions 


The day after—that is, the day following the 
Preparation—the chief priests and Pharisees went 
in a body to Pilate and said: 

“We recollect, Sir, that when he was living this 
imposter said, ‘I will rise again after three days.’ 
Now therefore give orders to have the sepulcher 
securely guarded until the third day, for fear his 
disciples may come and steal him away, and then 
tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead’; and 
so the last error will be worse than the first.” 

“You can have a guard,” said Pilate. ‘‘Go your 
way, make it as secure as you can.” 

So they went and made the sepulcher secure, by 
sealing the stone in the presence of the guard. 


85 


1 


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11 
12 
13 


MATTHEW 28 


XXVIII 
SUNDAY: THE DAY OF TRIUMPH 


The Reel of the Resurrection 


At the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn 
toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene 
and the other Mary came down to see the sepulcher, 
when lo! there had been a great earthquake; for 
an angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, 
and gone and rolled away the stone, and was sitting 
upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his 
raiment white as snow. The guards trembled for 
fear of him, and became like dead men. But to the 
women the angel said: 


Message to the Women 


“You need have no fear, for I know that you are 
seeking Jesus, the Crucified One. He is not here : 
for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the 
place where the Master was lying! And go quickly 
and tell his disciples: ‘He is risen from the dead; 
he goes before you into Galilee; you will see him 
there.’ Remember, I have told you,” 


Jesus Himself Meets Them 


On this they ran quickly from the sepulcher, in 
fear and great joy, to tell the news to his disciples. 
And behold! Jesus himself met them, saying, ‘‘ All 
hail!” And they went up to him and clasped his 
feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them: 

“Fear not! Go tell my brothers to depart into — 
Galilee, and they will see me there.” 


Bribing the Guard 


Now while they were on their way, some of the 
guard went into the city and told the high priest 
all that had happened. And when they had met 
with the elders and conferred together, they heavily 
bribed the soldiers and told them to say, 


86 


14 


15 


16 


pL7 

















18 


e19 


20 


MATTHEW 28 


“‘ His disciples came by night and stole him away, 
while we were asleep.” 

“Tf this should reach the Governor’s ears,” they 
said, “we will satisfy him and screen you from 
punishment.” 

So the soldiers took the money, and did as they 
were told; and this story has been noised abroad » 
among the Jews, and continues to this day. 


The Great Commission 


But the eleven disciples went away to Galilee, to 
the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 
And when they saw him they worshiped him; but 
some doubted. And Jesus came forward to them 
and spoke to them, saying: 

*‘ All authority has been given to me in heaven 
and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of 
all nations, baptizing them into the name of the 
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; 
teaching them to observe every command which I 
have given you: and lo! I am with you alway, 
even unto the end of the world.” 


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-. 


MARK’S GOSPEL 


Date: About 58 A. D.—the earliest written 
Gospel. 


Author: John Mark, mentioned in Acts 12: 

12; 15: 87-89; also in Colossians 
APE. 

Accompanied Paul on his first mis- 
sionary journey. 

Papias says that Mark was the in- 
terpreter or secretary of Peter; and 
Peter is supposed to be the authori- 
tative source of this Gospel. 


Characteristics: Presents Christ as the Tireless Work- 
er, the Mighty One. 


Key Word: “ Straightway.” 


Key Verse: Mark 10: 45, “For even the Son of 
man came not to be served, but to 
serve, and to give his life, a ransom 
for many.” 

Symbol: The Ox. 


Addressed To: In all probability, to Roman Chris- 
tla nec ee 


Note. The Gospel closes abruptly and is evidently 
incomplete. In one of the manuscripts, between the 
eighth and ninth verses of the sixteenth chapter, ap- 
pear the words “ Of the Presbyter Ariston.” Ariston, 
according to Papias (125 A. D.), was one of the disci- 
ples of Jesus, It is believed that he wrote the last 
twelve verses of Mark about 75 to 90 A. D. 


¢ 





MARK’S GOSPEL 


I 
THE DAWN OF JESUS’ MINISTRY 


The Ministry of John the Baptist 


1 Beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son 
2 of God; even as it is written in the prophet Isaiah, 
Behold, I am sending my messenger before your 
face to prepare your way.” 
3 The voice of one crying aloud: 
In the desert make ready a road for the Lord. 
Make his paths straight. 
4 In the desert came John who baptized, and 
preached a baptism of repentance for the remission 
5 of sins; and all the land of Juda, and.all the people 
of Jerusalem, kept going out to him, and were bap- 
tized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their 
sins. 


John Announces Jesus 


6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and he 
had a leather girdle round his loins, and he ate 
7 locusts, and “ honey of the wood.” He made procla- 
mation: 
“There is One mightier than I coming after me, 
and I am not worthy to stoop down and unfasten. 
8 his sandal strap; I have baptized you in water, but 
he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit.” 


The Baptism of Jesus 


9 It was at that time that Jesus came frorn Naza- 
reth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the 


AUIME AL ends apse lis 2.Jsa;.40.% 3. 
91 


10 


iG 


12 
13 


14 
15 


16 


Lf 


18 


19 


20 


21 


22 


MARK 1 


Jordan; and as soon as he rose from the water he 
saw the sky cleft asunder, and the Spirit like a 
dove descending upon him, and a voice from the 
sky: -« 

“Thou art my Son, my beloved; in thee is my 
delight.” * 


The Temptation of Jesus 


Then the Spirit drove him at once into the desert, | 
and he remained in the desert for forty days, 
tempted by Satan; and he was among the wild 
beasts, but the angels were ministering to him. 


The Early Galilean Ministry 
After John had been thrown into prison Jesus 
came into Galilee preaching the gospel of God. 
“The time is now come,” he said, “and the 
kingdom of God is near! Repent and believe the 
gospel.” 


Call of the First Disciples 


And as he was passing along by the sea of Gali- 
lee he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, 
casting their net into the sea, for they were fisher- 
men; so Jesus said to them, 

“Come after me, and I will make you to become 
fishers of men.” 

At once they left their nets and followed him. 

As he went a little farther on he saw James, the 
son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also 
were in their boat mending the nets. Straightway 
he called them, and they left their father Zebedee 
in the ship with the hired servants and went after 
him. : 


The Demoniac Healed 

So they came to Capernaum, and as soon as the 
Sabbath Day came he went into the synagogue and 
began to teach. They were astonished at his teach- 


ing, for he was teaching them with authority, not 
like the Scribes. 


SES ache sa ee 
92 





23 


24 


25 


26 


27 


28 


29 


380 


| 31 


32 
| 33 


(84 


| 85 


36 
37 


38 


MARK 1 


And at that very moment, there in their syna- 
gogue, a man in the grip ofan unclean spirit 
shrieked out: 

“What business have you with us, you Jesus of 
Nazareth? Are you come to destroy us? I know 
you who you are, the Holy One of God.” 

But Jesus rebuked him, saying: 

“ Be quiet! Come out of him.” 

So the unclean spirit, after tearing him, came out 
of him with a loud cry; and every one was amazed 
so that they began questioning among themselves: 

“What does this mean? A new teaching with 
authority? He lays commands even upon unclean 
spirits, and they obey him.” 

And at once his fame spread everywhere through 
that part of Galilee. 


A Twilight Ministry 


On leaving the synagogue they went at once with 
James and John to the house of Simon and Andrew. 
Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick of a fever, and 
without delay they told him about her. So he 
came and took her hand and raised her up. The 
fever left her at once, and she began to wait upon 
them. 

At evening when the sun had set, people came and 
brought to him all the sick and demon-possessed, 
and the whole town was gathered at the door. 
He cured many who were ill with various dis- 
eases, and drove out many demons. But he did not 
allow the demons to speak, because they knew who 
he was. 


Jesus Feels the Compulsion of His Task 


In the morning he rose a great while before day, 
and went out to a desert place, and there prayed. 
And Simon and his companions hunted him up, 
and told him, 

‘* Every one is looking for you.” 

“Let us go away,” he answered, “to the neigh- 
boring country towns, that I may preach there, 
too; because for that purpose I came ferth.” 


93 


39 


40 


41 


42 


43 


4 


45 


1 
2 


3 


MARK 2 


So he went throughout Galilee, preaching in the 
synagogues and driving out demons. 


Himself Bare Our Infirmities 


One day a leper came to him and besought him 
as he knelt down to him, saying, 

“If you choose, you are able to cleanse me.” 

Jesus, moved with compassion, put out his hand 
and touched him, saying, 

“I do choose, be clean! ” 

The leprosy at once left him, and he was made 
clean. Jesus immediately sent him away, charging 
him sternly, and saying: 

“See you say nothing to any one; but go your 

way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your 
purification what Moses commanded for a testimony 
to them.”’ 
* But he went out and began to tell every one and 
to publish it broadcast, so that Jesus could no 
longer enter any town openly; but he had to remain 
outside in lonely places, and people kept coming to 
him from every quarter. 


II 
HEALING AND TEACHING 


A Paralytic Borne of Four 


Some days later when Jesus entered Capernaum 
again the news spread, “He is in the house”; 
and at once such a crowd gathered that there was — 
no-longer room for them, even around the door. 

While he was speaking his message, they came 
bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four men. 
When they could not get him near to Jesus because — 
of the crowd, they removed the roof under which 
he stood, and after making an opening, they let 
down the cot on which the paralytic was lying. 
Then Jesus, when he perceived their faith, said to 
the paralytic, 


94 


11 


12 


13 


14 


15 


(16 


MARK 2 


** Son, your sins are forgiven.” 

But there were some Scribes sitting there who 
reasoned in their hearts: 

‘“Why does this man speak like this? He blas- 
phemes. Who is able to forgive sins but One, God 
himself? ” 

Jesus clearly perceived at once by the Spirit that 
they were thus reasoning in their hearts, and said 
to them: 

“Why do you reason thus in your hearts? Which 
is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are 
forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your cot and 
walk’? But to let you see that the Son of man has 
authority on earth to forgive sins ’—he sa to the 
paralytic— 

“TI bid you rise, take up your cot, and go 
home.” 

The man rose, at once took up his cot, and went 
out before them all; at which they were all 
astounded, and gave God glory, saying, 

“ We never saw anything like this.” 


The Call of Levi 


Then Jesus went again to the seaside, and the 
whole crowd kept coming to him, and he taught 
them. As he was passing by he saw Levi, the son 
of Alpheus, sitting in the tax-office; and he said 
to him, 

“ Follow me.” 

So he rose.and followed him. 


Not the Well but the Sick Need a Physician 


Later on Levi was sitting at table in his house, 
and together with Jesus and his disciples a number 
of tax-gatherers and sinners were guests, for there 
were many of them who used to follow him. But 
when some scribes of the Pharisees saw him eating 
with the sinners and tax-gatherers, they said to his 
disciples, 

“Ts he eating and drinking with tax-gatherers 
and sinners? ” 


95 


MARK 2 


17 On hearing this Jesus said to them: 
“It is not the healthy who need a physician, but 
the sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but 
sinners.” 


Teaching on Fasting 


18 Now the disciples of John and the Pharisees were 
keeping a fast, and people came to ask him, 
“How is it that the disciples of John and the 
Pharisees are fasting, but your disciples are not?” 
19 “Can friends of the bridegroom fast while he is 
still with them?” asked Jesus. “As long as they 
have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 
20 But the days will come when the Bridegroom will 
be taken away from them; then, on that day, they 
21 will fast. No one ever sews a piece of unshrunk 
cloth onto an old garment, otherwise the patch 
tears away from it—the new from the old—and a 
22 worse tear is made. And no one ever pours new 
wine into old wine-skins, else the wine would burst 
the skins, and both wine and skins would be lost. 
New wine is poured into fresh wine-skins.” 


Through the Fields on the Sabbath 


23 One Sabbath he was walking along through the 
wheat-fields, and his disciples, as they began to 
make their way across, were pulling the heads of 
wheat. 

24 “Look,” said the Pharisees to him, “ Why are 
they doing on the Sabbath Day what is against the 

25 law?” He answered them: 

“Have you never read what David did when he 

26 was needy and hungry, he and his men? How 
he went into the house of God when Abiathar 
was priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which 
none but priests may eat, and gave some to his 
men? * 

27. “The Sabbath,” he told them, “was made for 

28 man, and not man for the Sabbath; so the Son 
of man is Master even of the Sabbath.” 


tT Sam, 21." "6; 


96 


1 
2 


MARK 3 


III 


HE CALLS HIS APOSTLES, AND DEFINES 
HIS REAL RELATIVES 


The Man with the Withered Hand 


Again he went into a synagogue where there was 
a man with his hand withered. And they kept 
watching Jesus to see whether he would cure him 
on the Sabbath; so as to have some charge to bring 
against him. 

“ Stand up,” Jesus said to the man with the 
withered hand, “and come forward.” Then he 
asked them: 

“Ts it lawful to do good on the Sabbath Day, or 
to do harm? to save a life, or to destroy it? ”’ 

They were silent. Then looking around upon 
them with anger, and deeply grieved by the harden- 
ing of their hearts, he said to the man, 

“ Stretch out your hand!” 

He stretched it out, and the hand was at once 
completely restored. As soon as they came out, 
the Pharisees plotted against him with the Hero- 
dians, in order to destroy him. 


The Crowds Follow Him to the Seashore 


Then Jesus withdrew to the sea with his dis- 
ciples; and a great crowd of people from Galilee 
followed. 

From Judea, too, and Jerusalem, and Idumza, 
and from beyond Jordan, and from the district of 
Tyre and Sidon, they came to him a vast multi- 
tude, because they heard what he was doing. So 
he directed his disciples to keep a little boat in 
readiness for him, because of the crowd, to prevent 
their crushing him. For he had healed so many 
that all the people who had ailments pressed upon 
him so as to touch him. And whenever the unclean . 
spirits beheld him, they threw themselves down at 
his feet, screaming out, 

“You are the Son of God.” 


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MARK 3 


12 But over and over, he strictly forbade them to 
make him known. 


The Call of the Twelve 


13 Then he went up the hillside and called to him 
those whom he chose, and they came to him. 
14 Twelve of them whom he also called “ Apostles,” ? 
he appointed to be with him, and also that he might 
15 send them out to preach, and to have authority to 
16 cast out demons. There was Simon, whom he sur- 
17 named Peter, and James the son of Zebedee, and 
John, the brother of James (them he surnamed 
18 Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder), and Andrew, 
and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and 
Thomas, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thad- 
19 deus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas ieee who 
betrayed him. 


His Relatives Seek Him 


20 Then he went into a house, but again such a multi- 
tude assembled that they could not get their food, 
21 When his relatives heard of it, they came to take 
possession of him, for they said, 
“ He is out of his mind.” 
22 The Scribes also who had come down from Jeru- 
salem, said, 
“He is Beelzebub,” and, “He casts out demons 
by the power of the Prince of the demons.” 


He Speaks a Parable 


23 So when he had called them to him he spoke to 
them in parables: 
“How,” said he, “can Satan cast out Satan? 
24 If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom 
25 cannot stand; if a household be divided against it- — 
26 self, that household cannot stand; and if Satan has 
revolted against himself, and is divided, he cannot 
stand. Nay, he meets his end! 
Lire Apostles. ” is a Greek word which means the same as 


‘missionary,’ a word derived from the Latin. Both words 
mean ‘‘ one who is sent.” 


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28 


29 


50 


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MARK 4 


The Sin Against the Holy Spirit , 

‘“‘ Indeed, no one can enter the strong man’s house 
and carry off his property without first binding the 
strong man; then he can plunder his house. In 
solemn truth I tell you that the sons of men shall 
be forgiven all their sins and all the blasphemies 
they may utter, but he who blasphemes against the 
Holy Spirit is never forgiven. Nay, he is in the 
grasp of an eternal sin.” Because they kept saying, 
“ He has an unclean spirit.” 


Who Are the Near Relatives of Christ? 

Then his mother and his brothers came up, and 
standing outside, they sent a messenger to him to 
call him. Now a crowd was sitting round him and 
they told him, 

“See! your mother and your brothers and sisters 
are outside, wanting to see you.” 

“ Who are my mother and my brothers?” he re- 
plied. Then, with a glance at those who were in 
the circle sitting around him, he added: 

“Here are my mother and my brothers! Who- 
ever does the will of God, that one is my brother 
and sister and mother.” 


IV 
PARABLES ABOUT THE KINGDOM 


Jesus Teaches by the Sea 

Afterwards Jesus began to teach by the seaside, 
and a vast multitude of people gathered about him, 
so that he went on board a boat on the sea, and sat 
there, while all the people stayed on shore, at the 
water’s edge. Then he began teaching them in 
parables many things. In his teaching he said to 
them: 


Parable of the Sower 
“ Listen! the Sower once went out to sow, and as 


4 he sowed, it happened that some seed fell on the 


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11 


12 


13 
14 
15 
16 
17 


18 
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MARK 4 


road, and birds came and picked it up; some other 
seed fell on stony soil, where it had not much earth; 
and it sprang up quickly because it had no depth of 
soil, but when the sun rose it was scorched and 
withered away because it had no root. Other seed 
fell among the thorns, and the thorns sprang up 
and choked it, so that it yielded no crop. But some 
seed fell into good soil and yielded a crop that 
sprang up and increased, yielding thirty, sixty, or 
a hundredfold. 

“Any one who has ears to hear,”’ he added, “ let 
him listen to this.” 


He Explains the Parable 


When he was alone his followers and the Twelve 
began asking about the parables. He went on to 
say to them: 

“The secret truth concerning the kingdom of God 
has been given to you, but to those outside every- 
thing is told in parables, so that, 

“for all their looking they may not see, 

and for all their hearing, they may not under-— 

stand, 

lest perchance they should turn and be pardoned. 

“You do not understand this parable,” said Jesus. 
“Then how will you understand the other parables? 

“What the Sower sows is the Word. There are 
those ‘on the wayside’ where the Word is sown. 
As soon as they hear it, Satan immediately comes 
and snatches away the Word which has been sown in 
them. And like the sowing upon ‘stony ground’ 
are those who, whenever they hear the Word, at once 
receive it with joy, but because they have no root — 
in themselves they last for a time; but when suf- 
fering or persecution ensues because of the Word, 
they at once fall away. There are others who are 
“sown among thorns.’ When they have heard the 
Word, the anxieties of life and the snares of wealth, 
and all sorts of other ambitions, come in to choke 
the Word, so that it proves unfruitful. But those, 


tTIsa. 6: 10. 
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MARK 4 


on the other hand, who were sown on that good 
soil, are those who listen to the Word, and welcome 
it, and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold.” 


The Responsibility for What We Hear 


He went on to say: 

“Ts the lamp brought in to be put under the 
bushel or the bed? Is it not rather to be put on 
the lamp-stand? There is nothing hidden except 
what is to be disclosed, and nothing concealed ex- 
cept what is to be revealed. If any man has ears 
to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them: “ Take 
heed what you hear: With what measure you mea- 
sure it will be measured to you, and more will be 
given to you. For he who holds, to him will more 
be given, and he who holds not, from him will be 
taken even what he holds.” 


The Parable of Secret Growth 


“It is with the kingdom of God,” he continued, 
‘Sas if a man should have sown seed in the earth; 
night and day he sleeps and wakes while the seed is 
sprouting and growing tall, he knows not how. 
Of its own accord the earth bears its crops; first 
the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the 


9 ear. Then as soon as the crop is ready the man 


has the sickle put in at once, because harvest-time 


‘is come, 


The Parable of the Mustard-seed 


“ To what shall we compare the kingdom of God? ” 
he said again. “In what parable shall we set it 
forth? It is like a mustard-seed, which, when sown 
in the soil, is the smallest seed in the world; yet 
when sown shoots up and becomes larger than any 
plant, sending out such branches that the wild 
birds build their nests under its shadow.” 

With many such illustrations Jesus used to tell 
his message to people as far as they were able to 
receive it; and to them it was his practise never to 
speak except in parables. But he used to eyplain 
everything in private to his disciples. 


101 


39 


40 


41 


6 


MARK 5 


“ Peace, Be Still! ” 


On the evening of that same day Jesus said to 
them, “‘ Let us go across to the other side.” So, 
leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them 
just as he was in the boat’ and the other boats 
were with him. But a great gale of wind came 
up, and the waves were dashing into the boat so 
that it began to fill. Now he himself was sleeping 
on the cushion in the stern, so they woke him up, 
saying, 

“Master, do you not care if we perish?” 

And he awoke, rebuked the wind, and said to 
the sea, 

*“ Peace, be still! ” 

The wind fell, and there ensued a great calm. 
Then he said to them: 

“Why are you so afraid? Have you still no 


faith?” 


Then they were awestruck, and said one to an- 
other, 

“Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea 
obey him! ” 


vi 


MIGHTY WORKS OF POWER 


The Man from the Tombs 


Then they came to the country of the Gadarenes, 
on the opposite side of the sea; and he had no 
sooner stepped out of the boat, than a man out of 
the tombs came to meet him, a man with an unclean 
spirit, who lived among the tombs. Not even with 
a chain could any man bind him, for he had been 
bound with fetters and chains again and again, and 
had snapped the chains, and broken the fetters; and 
there was no one strong enough to master him. 
And always, night and day, he remained among the 
tombs and in the mountains, shrieking and gashing 
himself with stones. 

As he caught sight of Jesus from afar, he ran 


102 


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v1 
12 


13 


14 


15 


16 
17 


18 


My 


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MARK 5 


and knelt before him, and with a shriek he cried 
out in a loud voice: 

“ Jesus, son of God most high, what business have 
you with me? I adjure you by God, torment me 
not!” For Jesus was saying, 

“ Foul spirit, come out of the man.” 

He continued asking him, ‘“ What is your name? ” 

“Legion is my name, for we are many.” 

Over and over he continued to beg Jesus not to 
send them away out of the country. 


The Demons Enter the Swine 


Now there was on the hillside a great drove of 
swine feeding. So the spirits begged him, saying, 

“ Send us into the swine, that we may enter into 
them.” 

And he gave them leave. 

And out came the foul spirits and entered the 
swine; and the drove rushed down from the steep 
into the sea, in number abou* two thousand, and 
were choked in the sea. On this the swineherds 
ran away and spread the news in town and coun- 
try. So the people went to see what had happened. 


Clothed and in His Right Mind 


When they got to Jesus they found the demoniac 
sitting there, clothed and in his right mind—the 
man who had had the “Legion’—and they were 
awestruck. And those who had been eye-witnesses 
told them what had happened to the demoniac and 
to the swine. Then they began to beg Jesus to de- 
part from their district. 

As he was getting into the boat the man who had 
been demon-possessed kept begging to go with him; 
but he said, 

“Go home to your own people, and tell them 
what great things God has done for you, and has 
had mercy upon you.” 

So he went and began to publish abroad in the 
District of the Ten Towns all that Jesus had done 
for him; and every one was astonished and all men 
marveled. 


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MARK 5 


Jairus’ Daughter 


Then after Jesus had recrossed in a boat to the 
other side, a vast multitude came crowding around 
him; so he stayed on the seashore. Then one of 
the wardens of the synagogue, named Jairus, came 
up, and as soon as he saw Jesus, fell at his feet, 
with many entreaties. 

“My little daughter,” he said, “is dying. I be- 
seech you, come and lay your hands on her, that 
she may recover and live.” 

So he went with him, and a great crowd followed 
him and thronged about him. 


She Touched the Hem of His Garment 


Now there was a woman who had had a hemor- 
rhage for twelve years, and had suffered many 
things of many physicians, and had spent all that 
she had, but was no better; on the contrary, rather 
grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, so she 
came in the crowd behind and touched his cloak. 

“Tf I can touch even his clothes,” she kept say- 
ing to herself, “I shall get well.” 

At once the fountain of her blood was dried up; 
and she felt in her body that she was cured of her 
complaint. Jesus, instantly conscious that the power 
within him had gone forth, turned about in the 
crowd, and said, 

“Who touched my clothes? ” 

“You see the crowd thronging about you,” said 
his disciples, “and yet you say, ‘ Who touched me? ’” 

But he kept looking about to see who had done 
it, and the woman knowing what had happened to 
her, came in fear and trembling, and fell down 
before him, and told him all the truth. 

“ Daughter,” he said, “ your faith has saved you. 
Go in peace, and be cured of your complaint.” 


Jesus Raises from the Dead the Daughter of Jairus 
While he was still speaking men came from the 
house of the warden of the synagogue to tell him, ° 
“Your daughter is dead, why trouble the Teacher 
any further?” 


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MARK 6 


But Jesus, paying no attention to the remark, 
said to the warden of the synagogue, “ Have no 
fear, only believe.” 

He would not permit any one to go with him, 
except Peter and James and John, the brother of 
James. As they came to the house of the warden 
of the synagogue, he gazed upon a tumult, many 
weeping and wailing shrilly. 

“Why all this tumult and loud weeping?” he 
asked. ‘“ The child is not dead, but asleep.” And 
they began to laugh him to scorn. 

Then he put them all outside, took the father and 
mother of the child and those he brought with him, 
and entered the room where the child was lying. 
Then he took the child’s hand and said to her, 

“Talitha, cumi,’ that is to say, “ Little girl, I 
am speaking to you; arise! ” 

And instantly the little girl stood up, and began 
to walk, for she was twelve years old. They were 
at once beside themselves with utter amazement. 
He, however, repeatedly cautioned them not to let 
any one know about it, and directed them to give 
her something to eat. 


VI 


IMPRISONMENT AND DEATH OF JOHN THE 
BAPTIST 


Is This Not Jesus, the Carpenter? 


Jesus left that place, and accompanied by his dis- 
ciples, came into his own part of the country. When 
it came Sabbath he began to teach in the syna- 
gogue; many, as they listened, were deeply im- 
pressed. 

‘‘ Where did he get all this? ” they asked; “ What 
is the wisdom that is given to this man, and miracles 
such as these that happen at his hands? Is not 
this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother 
of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And 
are not his sisters here with us?” 


105 


MARK 6 


4 So they disapproved of him. Then Jesus said to 
them, 


Home Talent Often Despised 


““A prophet is not without honor except in his 
native land and among his relatives and in his 
home.” . 

And he was unable to do any miracle there, ex- 
cept that he laid his hands on a few sick folk and 
healed them. And he wondered at their lack of 
faith. So he went among the neighboring villages, 
teaching. 


On 


or) 


The Twelve Sent Out 


Then summoning the Twelve to him, he began 
to send them out two by two, giving them authority 
8 over unclean spirits. He bade them take nothing 
but a staff for their journey; no bread, no wallet, 
9 no coins in their purse; they were to wear sandals, 
but not to put on two tunics. 
10. “Wherever you enter a house,” he told them, “ re- 
11 main there until you leave the place; and if any 
place does not receive you, or listen to you, as you 
go out of it shake off the dust under your feet, as 
a warning to them.” 
12 So they fared forth and summoned men to re- 
13 pentance. They cast out many demons, and 
anointed many sick people with oil and cured them. 


~] 


Various Opinions of Jesus 


14 King Herod heard it, for the name of Jesus had 
become well known. People were saying, 

“John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and 
on that account these powers are working in 
him.” 

15 ‘“Heis Elijah,” said others. 

And still others were saying, 

“ He is a prophet, like one of the old prophets.” 
16 But when Herod heard, he said, 

“That John whom I beheaded has come back to 
life.” ; 


106 


17 
18 


19 
20 


MARK 6 


The Story of John’s Beheading 

Now this Herod had sent and arrested John, and 
bound him in prison, for the sake of Herodias, his 
brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. For 
John had often told Herod, 

“Tt is not right for you to live with your brother’s 
wife.” 

So Herodias hated him, and wished to put him to 
death; but she could not, for Herod was afraid 
of John because he knew that he was a just and 
holy man. So he kept him safe. When he listened 
to John he was much exercised, yet he found plea- 


sure in listening to him. 


21 


22 


23 
24 


25 


26 


27 


Salome Dances for Herod 


Then came a convenient day, when Herod on his 
birthday held a feast for his lords and generals and 
the leading men of Galilee, at which the daughter 
of Herodias herself came in and danced. She 
charmed Herod and his guests. 

“ Ask me whatever you want,” said the king to 
the young girl, “and I will give it to you.” 


The King’s Oath 


He even swore to her that whatever she asked, he 
would give it ‘to her, up to half his kingdom. So 
she came out and said to her mother, 

“What shall I ask for?” 

“The head of John the Baptist,” she replied. 

So she at once hurried in to the king and made 
her request, 

“T want you,” she said, “to give me, without 
delay, the head of John the Baptist on a charger.” 


Salome’s Gruesome Trophy 

Then the king was exceedingly sorry; yet on 
account of his oaths and his guests he was unwilling 
to disappoint her. So he sent at once a soldier of 
the guard with orders to bring his head. And he 
went and beheaded John in prison, brought his head 
on a platter, and gave it to the young girl, and she 
gave it to her mother. 


107 


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35 


36 


37 


38 


39 
40 


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MARK 6 


When John’s disciples heard of this, they came, 
and took his body, and laid it in a tomb. 


Come Ye Apart and Rest a While 


When the apostles had come back to Jesus, they 
told him all the things they had done, and all they 
had taught. Then he said to them, 

“Come apart, yourselves, to a quiet spot, and 
rest a while.” 

For there were many coming and going, and they 
could not get time even to eat. So they sailed away 
privately to a solitary place. However, many saw 
them going, and recognized them, and ran together 
by land from all the neighboring towns, and arrived 
there first. 

So when Jesus landed he saw a vast multitude, 
and he was moved with compassion for them, be- 
cause they were like sheep without a shepherd, and 
he began to teach them many things. 


The Feeding of the Five Thousand 


Then when the day was now far spent, his, dis- 
ciples came to him and said: 

“This place is desert, and the day is now far 
spent. Send the people away so that they may go 
to the farms and villages about here, and buy them- 
selves something to eat.” 

In answer he said to them, “ You yourselves are 
to give them food.” 

“Are we to go and buy fifty dollars worth of 
bread,” they said, “and give them food?” 


Bread for All and to Spare 


“How many loaves have you?” he answered. 
“ Go and see.” 

When they had found out, they said, “Five, and 
two fishes.” 

Then he directed them to make all sit down by 
companies on the green grass. And they sat down 
like beds in a garden, by hundreds and by fifties. 
Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and 
looking up to heaven he blessed, broke the loaves in 


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46 
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49 
50 


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MARK 6 


pieces, and kept giving to the disciples to distribute. 
The two fish also he divided to them all. All ate 
and had enough; and they carried away broken 
fragments of bread and of fish, enough to fill twelve 
baskets. Those who ate the bread were five thou- 
sand adult men. 


Jesus Walks on the Water 


Then he at once compelled the disciples to embark 
in the boat and go before him to Bethsaida on the 
other side, while he sent the people away. After 
he had taken leave of them, he went away into the 
mountain to pray. And when evening came, the 
boat was half-way across the sea, while he was on 
shore alone; but when he saw them distressed in 
rowing (for the wind was against them), about 
the fourth watch of the night he went to them, 
walking upon the sea. He would have passed 
them by, but when they saw him walking upon 
the sea, they thought it was an apparition and 
shrieked aloud, for they all saw him and were 
terrified. 

But he at once spoke with them, saying: 

“Courage! It is I. Do not be afraid! ” 

Then he got into the boat beside them, and the 
wind ceased, and they were utterly astounded, for 
they had not understood about the loaves; on the 
contrary their heart was hardened. 


He Healed Them All 


When they had crossed over they landed at Gen- 
nesaret and moored to the shore. As soon as they 
got out of the boat, the people at once recognized 
him, and began running over that whole country, 


. and carrying the sick about on their beds, wherever 


56 


they heard he was. And whenever he entered into 
villages or cities or the fields they would lay the 
sick in the market-places and beseech him to let 
them touch even the tassel of his cloak, and all who 
touched him were made well. 


109 

















MARK 7 


Vil 
DISCOURSES AND DEEDS OF MERCY 


Displacing the Commandments by Traditions 


1 One day the Pharisees came to him in a body with 
2 some Scribes who had come from Jerusalem. They 
had noticed that some of his disciples were eating 
with “common,” that is to say, unwashed hands.’ 
5) So the Pharisees and Scribes asked him: ‘‘ Why do 
your disciples not follow the traditions of the elders? 
Why do they eat with ‘common’ [unwashed] 
hands?” 
6 ‘ Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, hypocrites,” he 
answered. ‘ As it is written, 
“This people honor me with thew lips, 
While their hearts are far from me; 
7 But in vain do they worship me, 
For their teaching is only human precepts.’ 
8 “You neglect the commandment of God, and hold 
fast the traditions of men.” 


Unworthy Formalism 


9 “It is praiseworthy, is it,” he exclaimed, ‘‘ to re- 
ject the command of God that you may keep your 


10 tradition! For although Moses said, Honor your 


father and mother,’ and Let him who curses father 


11 or mother suffer death,* you say that if a man tells 


his father or mother, ‘This money which otherwise 
you would have received from me, is Korban’ (that 


12 is, a thing devoted to God), you exempt him from 
13 doing any service for his father or mother. Thus 


by your tradition which you have handed down you 


1 Verses 3 and 4: “ For the Pharisees and all of the Jews do 
not eat until they have ceremoniously washed their hands in 
obedience to the tradition of the elders; and when they come 
from the market-place they do not eat without bathing first : 
and they have many other customs which they have received 
and observe, such as the washing of cups and jugs and copper 
pans.” —T hese verses are not found in the best manuscripts. 

4 [sax 29 0213. 

3 Exod. 20-: 12. 

SPHIX OO eaters ta 


110 


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15 


17 


19 


MARK 7 


set at naught the word of God; and you do many 
other thing's like that.” 


Out of the Heart Are the Issues of Life 


Then again he called the crowd to him and said: 

“Listen to me, all of you, and understand; there 
is nothing outside a man which by entering in can 
defile him; but it is what comes from him that de- 
files him.” 

After he had left the crowd and gone indoors his 
disciples began asking him about the parable. 


Jesus Disavows Ceremonial Cleanness 


“ Are even you without understanding?” he said. 
“Do you not perceive that nothing whatever from 
without can defile a man by entering him, because 
it does not go into his heart, but into his belly, and 
passes away, ejected from him? ” 

By these words he pronounced all foods clean. 


The Evil Brood that Nests in the Heart 


“What comes out of a man,” he continued, “is 
what defiles him. From within, from the heart of 
man, proceed evil purposes—fornication, theft, 
murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, wantonness, 
envy, slander, arrogance, reckless folly—all these 
wicked things issue from within and defile a man.” 


The Syro-phenician Woman 


After he rose and left that place, he went away 
into the region of Tyre and Sidon. Here he went 
into a house and wished no one to know it, but he 
could not be hid. Forthwith a woman whose little 
daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit, heard 
of him, and came and fell at his feet (the woman 
was a Greek, a Syro-pheenician by race), and again 
and again she begged him to cast the demon out of 
her daughter. 

“Tet the children be filled first,’ he said to her. 
“Tt is unseemly to take the children’s bread and 
throw it to the dogs.” 


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MARK 8 


“True, Master,” she answered, “but the dogs 
under the table do pick up the children’s crumbs.” 

“For that saying of yours, go home,” he re- 
plied; ‘the demon has departed from your daugh- 
ter.” 

So she went home, and found the child lying in 
her bed, and the demon departed. 


The Cure of a Deaf Stammerer 


Again he left the region of Tyre, and passed 
through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, crossing the 
District of the Ten Towns. And they brought to 
him a deaf man who stammered, and begged him 
to lay his hands upon him. So Jesus took him aside 
from the crowd, by himself, and put his finger in 
the man’s ears, and moistened his tongue with 
saliva; then looking up to heaven with a sigh, he 
said to him, “ Ephphatha! ” (that is, “ Be opened.”) 
And his ears were opened and the bond of his 


tongue was loosened, and he spoke plainly. ‘Then | 


Jesus charged them not to tell any one, but the more 
he charged them, the more they published it; and 
people were amazed beyond measure, saying: 
“How successfully he does things! Even the 
deaf he makes to hear, and the dumb to speak.” 


VIII 
CONDITIONS OF DISCIPLESHIP 


Feeding of the Four Thousand 


In those days when a large crowd had again as- 
sembled and had nothing to eat, Jesus called to- 
gether his disciples and said to them: 

“My heart aches for the crowd, because they have 
remained with me three days now, and they have 
nothing to eat; and if I send them away fasting to 


their homes, they will faint on the way. Moreover, 


some of them are from a distance.” 
“Where will it be possible,” answered his dis- 


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MARK 8 


ciples, “for one to fill these men with bread in a 
lonely place like this? ” 

He asked them, ‘“‘ How many loaves have you? ” 

“Seven,” they said. 

So he directed the crowd to sit down on the 
ground; and when he had taken the seven loaves, 
he gave thanks, broke them, and gave to his dis- 
ciples to distribute to the crowd. They had also 
a few small fish; after blessing these he told his 
disciples to distribute them also. They ate and 
were filled—there were about four thousand of 
them—and they took up of broken pieces that were 
left, seven hampers. They that had eaten were 
about four thousand. Then he sent them away, got 
at once into the boat with his disciples, and came 
into the district of Dalmanutha. 


The Pharisees Seek a Sign 


And the Pharisees came out and began to ques- 
tion him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, by 
way of testing him. At this Jesus sighed deeply in 
his spirit, and said: 

“Why does the present generation seek a sign? 
In solemn truth I tell you that no sign shall be given 
this generation.” 


The Leaven of the Pharisees 


Then he left them, and getting into the boat again, 
went away to the other side. Now they had for- 
gotten to take bread, and had not in the boat with 
them more than one loaf. So he gave them this 
warning: 

“Look out! Be on the watch against the leaven 
of the Pharisees, and the leaven of Herod.” 

And they began arguing with one another be- 
cause they had no bread. He noted this and said 
to them: 

“Why are you arguing together because you have 
no bread? Do you not yet perceive and understand? 
Are your minds so slow to comprehend? You have 
eyes, do you not see? You have ears, do you not 


113 


19 


20 


21 


22 
23 


NS 
= 


27 


28 


29 


MARK 8 


hear?* Do you not remember? When I broke the 
five loaves among the five thousand, how many 
baskets of broken pieces did you take up?” 

“ Twelve,” they said. 

“And when the seven for the four thousand, 
how many hampers full of fragments did you pick 
pee? ' 

They said to him, “ Seven.” 

“Do you not yet understand?” he said. 


A Blind Man Cured 


Then they came to Bethsaida, where some people 
brought a blind man to Jesus, and begged him to 
touch him. Taking the blind man by the hand, he 
led him outside the village; and, after spitting on 
his eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, 

“Can you make out anything? ” 

The man looked up and said, 

“TI can make out the people, for as they move 
about, I-see them like trees.” 

Then Jesus again put his hands on the man’s 
eyes; and the man, staring straight ahead, recovered 
his sight and continued to see everything perfectly. 
Then Jesus sent him home, saying, “ Do not even go 
into the village.” 


Who Say Ye that I Am? 


From there Jesus and his disciples went to the 
villages of Czesarea Philippi, and on the way he 
began to question his disciples, saying, 

“Who do people say I am?” 

And they tcld him, 

“Some say John the Baptist, others, Elijah, and 
others that you are one of the prophets.” 


Peter’s Great Confession 


And he continued questioning them, 

“But you yourselves, Who do you say I am?” 
Peter in reply said to him, 

“You are the Christ.” 


Jer. 3) 21. 
114 


30 
31 


32 


33 


34 


2 


MARK 9 


Then he strictly charged them not to say this 
about him to any one; and he began to explain to 
them that the Son of man must suffer many things, 
and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests, 
and the Scribes, and be put to death, and after two 
days rise again. This he told them quite openly. 


Peter’s Presumption 

Then Peter took him and began to rebuke him. 
But he turned round, and looked upon his disciples, 
and rebuked Peter. 

“Get thee behind me, Satan,” he said, “for your 
thoughts are not God’s thoughts, but man’s.” 


Conditions of Discipleship 


Then summoning the crowd to him, with his dis- 
ciples: he said: 

“Tf any man wishes to follow me, let him re- 
nounce self, take up his cross, and so follow me. 
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; 
but whoever, for my sake and the gospel’s, loses 
his life will save it. For what shall it profit a man 
to gain the whole world and lose his own life? 
Or what shall a man give in exchange for his life? 
Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this 
unfaithful and wicked generation, of him shall the 
Son of man be ashamed when he comes in the glory 
of his Father with the holy angels.” 


Ix 
THE TRANSFIGURATION 


“In solemn truth I tell you,” he said, “ there are 
some standing here who shall not taste death till 
they see the kingdom of God, come with power.” 


The Excellent Glory in the Mount 
Six days later Jesus took with him Peter and 
James and John, and brought them by themselves 


115 


10 
11 


13 


14 
15 
16 


17 


MARK 9 


up a high mountain apart from the rest. Here in 
their presence he was transfigured; and his clothes 
also became glistering with a radiant whiteness, 
such as no bleaching on earth could give. More- 
over there appeared to them Elijah, with Moses; 
and they were talking with Jesus. 

“Master,” said Peter, addressing Jesus, “it is 
good for us to be here. Let us put up three tents, 
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 
(For he did not know what to say, they were so 
awestruck.) 

Then there came a cloud overshadowing them; 
and there came a voice out of the cloud: 

“This is my Son, my beloved. Listen to him.” 

And suddenly as they looked around, they saw no 
one any more beside them, but Jesus alone. 


The Disciples Question Jesus 


As they came down the mountain he strictly for- 
bade them to narrate to any one what they had seen, 
until after the Son of man had risen from the dead. 
This order they faithfully kept, questioning among 
themselves what “rising again from the dead” 
meant. So they asked him, 

“ How is it that the Scribes say that Elijah must 

first come? ” 
' “ Hlijah does indeed first come,” he said, “and 
restores all things. But how is it written about the 
Son of man, that he will endure great suffering, and 
be rejected? 

“Elijah indeed has already: come,” he added, 
“and they have done to him whatever they pleased, 
even as it is written of him.” 


The Demoniac Boy at the Foot of the Mountain 


When they rejoined the disciples they saw a great 
crowd surrounding them, and some Scribes disput- 
ing with them. As soon as they saw him, all the 
people were astounded and ran up to greet him. 
He asked them, 

“What are you discussing with them? ” 

“ Master,” answered one of the crowd, “I brought 


116 


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20 


21 


22 


23 


24 


25 


26 


27 
28 


29 


MARK 9 


my son to you; he has a dumb spirit in him; and 
wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; he foams 
at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and is wasting 
away. I begged your disciples to east it out, but 
they could not.” 

“ O unbelieving generation! ” replied Jesus; ‘‘ how 
long must I be with you? how long must I be 
patient with you? Bring him to me.” 


The Irresistible Power of Faith 


So they brought the boy to him, and when he saw 
Jesus, the spirit at once convulsed him, and he fell 
to the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. 
Then Jesus asked the father, 

“How long has he been like this? ” 

“From childhood,” he answered; “and often it 
has thrown him into the fire and into the water, to 
destroy him; but if you can do anything, take 
pity on us and help us.” 

Jesus said to him: 

““Tf you can’! All things can be for one who 
believes.” 

The boy’s father with a cry said instantly: 

““T do believe; help my unbelief.” 

And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running 
together, he rebuked the unclean spirit: 

“You dumb and deaf spirit,’”’ he said, ‘“ come 
out of him, I command you, and never enter him 
again.” 


Prayer Changes Things 


So with a loud shriek it came out, after throwing 
the boy into convulsion after convulsion. The boy 
looked like a corpse, so that most of them caid 
that he was dead. But Jesus took him by the hand 
and lifted him up, and he stood up. When Jesus 
had gone into the house, his disciples asked him in 
private, 

“Why could not we cast it out?” 

“This kind can only be cast out by prayer,” he 
replied. 


117 


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ol 


32 


33 


34 
35 


36 
37 


. 88 


39 


40 
41 


MARK 9 


Jesus Prophesies His Death 


Jesus and his disciples, after leaving that place, 
passed through Galilee; but he was unwilling that 
any one should know it, for he was explaining to 
his disciples that the Son of man was to be betrayed 
into the hands of men, and that they would put him 
to death, but that after he had been put to death, 
he would rise again after three days. But they did 
not understand his words, and were afraid to ask 
him the meaning. 


The Secret of True Greatness 


Then they came to Capernaum; and when he got 
into the house he asked them, 

“ What were you discussing on the road? ” 

But they were silent, for on the road they were 
disputing together which one was greatest. So 
he sat down and called the Twelve, and said to 
them, 

“If any one wishes to be first, he must be last 
of all, and the servant of all.” 


The Child in the Midst 


Then Jesus took a little child, set it among them, 
and folding it in his arms, he said, 

“Whoever in my name receives one such little 
child, receives me, and whoever receives me, re- 
ceives not me, but Him who sent me.” 


Because He Follows Not Us 


sr Master,” said John, “ we saw a man casting out 
demons in your name, and we tried to stop him 
because he did not follow us.” 

“Do not try to stop him,’ Jesus answered, “for 
there is no one who performs a miracle in my name 
who can soon speak evil of me. He who is mots 
against us is for us. For whoever gives you even 
a cup of water to drink because you belong to 
Christ, in solemn truth I tell you, that he shall 
certainly not lose his reward. 


118 


42 


43 


45 


47 


48 
49 
50 


MARK 10 


Causing to Stumble 

“ And if any one shall cause one of these little 
ones who believe on me to stumble, it would be 
better for him if he were thrown out into the sea 
with a great millstone about his neck. 

“If your hand cause you to stumble, cut it off! 
It is better to be maimed and to enter into life 
than to have two hands and go away into hell, into 
the fire that cannot be put out. If your foot cause 
you to stumble, cut it off! It is better to enter into 
the life a cripple, than to have two feet and be 
east into hell.t If your eye cause you to stumble, 
tear it out! It is better for you to enter the king- 
dom of God one-eyed than to keep both your eyes 
and be cast into hell, where their worm never dies 
and the fire does not go out.’ For by fire every one 
will be salted; * salt is excellent, but if the salt has 
lost its savor, what will you use to restore its salt- 
ness? Then have salt in yourselves, and be at peace 
with one another.” 


1 Verses 44 and 46 are wanting in the most ancient manu- 
scripts. 


2Tsa.66 2 24. 


3 The Greek verb ‘‘ salted” refers to the custom of using 
salt in the sacrifices. The allusion is to the fire of discipline 
and self-sacrifice. 


x 


TEACHINGS OF JESUS 


The Question About Divorce 

On leaving that place Jesus came into the borders 
of Judza, on the other side of the Jordan. Once 
more the people flocked about him, and again, as 
usual, he began teaching them. Presently some 
Pharisees came up and tested him, by asking if it 
was lawful for a man to divorce his wife. 

“What did Moses command you?” he replied. 

“ Moses,” said they, “‘ permitted a man to draw up 
a bill of separation and divorce her.’ * 


1 Deut. 24: 1. 
119 


5 


6 


7 


13 


MARK 10 


But Jesus said to them: 

““Moses gave you that command because of the 
hardness of your hearts; but from the beginning of 
the creation God made them male and female. 

“For this cause a man shall leave his father and 
his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the 
two shall become one flesh; ° so that they are no more 
two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined 
together, let not man put asunder.” 

When indoors tle disciples began to question Jesus 
again about this, and he said: 

“Any man who divorces his wife and marries 
another woman commits adultery against her; and 
if she divorces her husband and marries. another 
man, she commits adultery.” 


Little Children Are Blessed 
Now people were bringing little children to J esus, 


_ for him to touch them; but the disciples rebuked 


14 


15 


16 


17 


18 


them. Jesus was indignant when he saw it, and 
said: 

“Let the little children come to me. Do not 
hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to 
such. I tell you true that unless a man receives 
the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not 
even enter it.” 

Then he took them in his arms, and laid his hand 
upon them in blessing. 


The Rich Young Man 


As he started to go forth into the road, a man 
came running up to him, and knelt down before him. 

“Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must 1. do 
to inherit eternal life? ” 

Jesus said to him: 

“Why do you call me ‘good’? No one is good 
Save one, God himself. You know the command- 
ments: Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do 
not steal, do not. bear false witness, do not cheat, 
honor your father and mother.” 2 


2Gen. 2: 24, S Deut. 5: 16-20t 
120 


20 


21 


22 


25 


24 


25 


26 


27 


28 


29 


30 


d1 


32 


MARK 10 


“ Teacher,” he answered, “I have observed all 
these from my. youth,” 

Jesus loved him as he looked at him, and said: 

‘One thing you lack. Go, sell all you have and 
give to the poor; and you shall have wealth in 
heaven; and come, follow me.” 

But his face fell at these words, and he went 
away saddened, for he was one who had great 
wealth. 

Then Jesus looked round on his disciples and said, 

“How hard it is for those who have wealth to 
enter into the kingdom of God!” 

The disciples were amazed at his words. Jesus 
looked around and said again to them: 

“My sons, how hard it is for those who trust in 
money to enter the kingdom of God. It is easier 
for a camel to get through the eye of a needle, 
than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of 
heaven.” 

“Then who can be saved?” they said to them- 
selves astonished beyond measure. 

When he had looked at them, Jesus said, 

“With men it 7s impossible, but not with God, 
for all things are possible with God.” 


The Rewards of Following 


“ But we,” Peter began to say, ‘‘ we have left our 
all, and have followed you.” 

“TI tell you solemnly,” said Jesus, “that there 
is no man who has left house, or brothers, or sisters,. 
or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my 
sake and the gospel’s, but shall receive a hundred 
times as much, now in this present world, houses, 
brothers, sisters, mothers, children, lands—and per- 
secutions with them—and in the world to come 
eternal life. But many who are first shall be last, 
and the last, first.” 


On the Road to Jerusalem 


They were still on the road going up to Jerusalem, 
and Jesus led the way; and they were amazed, and 
some, although they followed, were afraid: Then 


yar 


33 


34 


35 


38 
39 


40 


41 


42 
43 


44 
45 


MARK 10 


once more he took the Twelve, and began to tell 
them what was about to befall him. 

“See,” said he, “we are going up to Jerusalem, 
and the Son of man will be betrayed to the high 
priests and the Scribes. They will condemn him to 
death, and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who 
will mock him, spit upon him, flog him, and put 
him to death; and after three days he will rise 
again.” 


The Ambition of James and John 


Presently there came up to him James and John, 
the sons of Zebedee, and said, 

“Teacher, we wish you would do for us whatever 
we ask you.” 

“ What is it you want me to do for you? ” said he. 

They answered, 

“Allow us to sit, one at your right hand, and the 
other at your left hand, in your glory.” 

“You know not what you are asking,” said Jesus. 
“Can you drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized 
with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 

They answered him, “ We can.” 

“You shall indeed drink the cup that I drink, 
and with the baptism that I am baptized with shall 
you be baptized, but,a seat upon my right hand or 
my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for 
whom it has been reserved.” 


Christian Law of Distinction 


When they heard this the ten began to be in- 
dignant at James and John, so Jesus called them to 


‘him and said: 


“You know that those who are regarded as rulers 
among the Gentiles lord it over them, and their 
great ones make them feel their authority. Not so 
shall it be among you. On the contrary whoever 
would become great among you shall be your ser- 
vant; and whoever among you would be first, shall 
be slave of all, and justly, for even the Son of man 
came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his 
life, a ransom for many.” 


122 





46 
AT 


48 


49 


1 
2 


5) 


Oe 


MARK 11 


Blind Bartimeus 


Then they reached Jericho; and as he was leaving 
Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bar- 
timeus, the son of Timzus, a blind beggar, was sit- 
ting beside the road.. Hearing that it was Jesus of 
Nazareth, he began shouting and saying, 

“ Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me! ” 

And many kept rebuking him and telling him to 
be quiet, but he only shouted much louder, 

“ Son of David, have mercy on me!” 

Then Jesus stood still, saying, 

“Call him.” 

So they called the blind man, and said, 

“ Courage, rise, he is calling you.” 

The man threw off his cloak, sprang to his feet, 
and came to Jesus. 

“What do you want me to do?” said Jesus, ad- 
dressing him. And the blind man answered, 

“OQ Rabboni, that I might receive my sight! ” 

“Go,” said Jesus, “your own faith has saved 
you,” and immediately he received his sight, and 
began to follow Jesus along the road. 


XI 
THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY 


ON. SUNDAY OF PASSION WEEK 


Jesus Sends His Disciples for the Ass 

Now when they were approaching Jerusalem, near 
Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, 
Jesus sent two of his disciples and told them: 

‘Go to that village in front of you, and imme- 
diately on entering it you will find a colt tied, upon 
which no man has ever sat; untie him and bring 
him here. And if any man asks you, ‘ Why are you 
doing that?’ answer, ‘The Lord has need of him, 
and he will immediately send him back.’” 

So they went and found a colt tied outside a door, 
in the open street, and untied it. And some of the 
bystanders began to say to them, 


123 


MARK 11 


“What are you trying to do, untying that colt? ” 
6 So they, answered them just as Jesus had told 
them, and they let them take it. 


Jesus Rides in Triumph . 
7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus, and when 
they had thrown cloaks upon it, Jesus seated him- 
8 self on it. Then many spread their cloaks on the 
road, and others, soft leafy branches, which they 
9 had cut from the fields; and those who went before 
him and those who came after kept. shouting: 


“ Hosanna! 
Blessed be He who comes in the name of the 
Lord! 
10 Blessed be the coming kingdom of our father 
David! 


Hosanna, in the highest!” 


Jesus Goes to Bethany 


11. Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the 
Temple, and after he had looked around at every- 
thing, as the hour was now late, he went out to 
Bethany with the Twelve. 


MONDAY: A DAY OF AUTHORITY 
The Doomed Fig Tree 


12 The next day after leaving Boh he was 
13 hungry, and seeing a fig tree in the distance full 
of leaves, he came to see if he could find anything © 
on it, and found on it nothing but leaves (for it | 
14 was not the time of figs). So, addressing the tree, 
he said, 
* Let no man ever more eat fruit from you.” 
And his. diseiples heard it. 


He Drives the Traders from the Temple 


15. Presently they reached: Jerusalem, and, after en- 
tering the Temple courts, Jesus began to drive out — 
those who were buying and selling there, and to — 
upset the, tables of the money-changers, and the 

16 stalls of those who sold, doves, and he would not | 


124 





17 


18 


19 
20 


21 


22, 


24 


25 


27 


28 
29 


MARK 11 


allow any one to carry a vessel through the Temple 
courts. Then he began to teach. 

“Ts it not written,’ he said, ‘My house shall be 
called a house of prayer for all the nations? But 
you have made it a den of robbers.” * 

The chief priests and the Scribes heard this, and 
they began to seek means of destroying him; for 
they were afraid of him because all the crowd were 
greatly struck with his teaching. 


A Lesson on Faith 

Now every evenitig he used to go outside the city; 
and as: they [he and his disciples] were passing 
along in the morning, they saw the fig tree already 
withered from the root. Then Peter remembered, 
and exclaimed, 

‘Look, Rabbi; the fig tree which you cursed is 
withered up.” 
23. “Take hold on God’s faithfulness,” said Jesus 
to them in reply. “In solemn truth I tell you that 
if any one shall say to this mountain, ‘ Up and hurl 
yourself into the sea!’ and shall not doubt in his 
heart, but on the contrary shall believe that what 
he says will happen, it will be granted him. That 
is why I am telling you that whatever you ask for 
in prayer, believe that you have received it, and 
it shall be yours. And whenever you stand up to 
pray, forgive, if you have anything against any 
one, that so your Father also who is in heaven may 
forgive you your trespasses.” * 


Captious Questions 

Once more they came into Jerusalem; and as he 
was walking in the Temple courts, there came to 
him the high priests and Scribes and elders and 
asked him: 

“ By what authority do you do these things? or 
who gave you this authority to do these things?” 

“And I will put one question to you,” replied 
Jesus. ‘ Answer this, and I will tell you by what 


Disa 567: Fer VF: FP. 
2 Verse 26 is lacking in the most ancient manuscripts. 


125 


MARK 12 


30 authority I do these things. The baptism of John, 
was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me!” | 
31 Then they began arguing with one another: 
“If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘ Why 
32 then did you not believe him?’ On the other hand, 
if we say, ‘From men’!” They were afraid, how- 
ever, of the people, for every one held that John | 
33 had been really a prophet. So their answer to 
Jesus was, 
“We do not know.” . 
“Neither will I tell you,” said Jesus, “by what | 
authority I do these things.” 


XIT 
TUESDAY: A DAY OF DISPUTATION 


1 Presently Jesus began to speak to them in para- 
bles: 


Parable of the Vine-dresser 


“There was once a man,” he said, “who planted 
a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the | 
wine-press, built a tower, rented it to tenants, and 

2 went abroad. At vintage-time he sent a slave to | 
the vine-dressers to collect some of the proceeds 

3 of the vineyard; but they seized him, and flogged 

4 him, and sent him away empty-handed. Then he 
sent another slave to them; and this man they | 
knocked over the head and handled shamefully. 

®\ And he sent another; and him they killed; and many | 

6 others; beating some, and killing some. He had — 
still one, a Son beloved. He sent him last to them, 
saying, 

““ They will reverence my Son.’ 

7 “But those tenants said to themselves: ‘ Here is 
the heir! Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance 
will be ours.’ 

8 “So they took him and killed him, and threw his 

9 body out of the vineyard. What will the owner 
of the vineyard do?” iv" 


126 





10 


11 
12 


13 
14 


15 


16 


17 


18 
19 


20 


MARK 12 


“ He will come and put the tenants to death,” they 
said, “and will give the vineyard to others.” 
“Have you not read this Scripture?” (he con- 
tinued) 
“ The very stone which the builders rejected 
Has now become the corner-stone; 
This is the Lord’s doing; 
It is marvelous in our eyes. 
And they kept seeking to lay hold on him, but 
were afraid of the crowd, for they knew well that 
he had spoken this parable about them; so they left 
him and went away. 


27k 


Tribute to Cesar 


But they sent some of the Pharisees to Jesus 
afterward, and some of the Herodians to entrap him 
in conversation. So when they came, they said: 

“Teacher, we know that you are sincere and 
are not afraid of any one, for you do not regard 
the face of men; nay, but you teach the way of 
God in truth. Is it right to pay poll-tax to Cesar 
or not? Shall we pay, or not pay?” 

But he, knowing well their hypocrisy, said to 
them: 

“Why are you testing me? Bring me a dollar 
for me to look at.” And they brought it. 

“Whose likeness and inscription is this? ” 

“ Cesar’s,” they answered. 

And Jesus said, 

“Render to Cesar the things that are Cxsar’s, 
and to God, the things that are God’s.” — 

They were amazed at him. 


A Question About Marriage 
Then came up some Sadducees, men who say there 
is no resurrection. They too questioned him, saying: 
“Teacher, Moses taught us that if a man’s brother 
die, and leave a wife behind him, but no child, that 
his brother is to marry the widow and to raise up 
a family for his brother.” There were once seven 


SEES elt Sia wee os 2 Deut. 25 : 5, 6. 
127 


21 


22 
23 


24 
25 


t 
fon) 


27 


28 


29 


30 


MARK 12 


brothers, the eldest of whom married a wife, and 
died leaving no family. The second married. her, 
and died without offspring; the third likewise; and 
the seven had her, and died without issue. And 
last. of all. the woman too died. In the resurrec- 
tion whose wife shall she be? For the seven had 
her as wife.” 


God of the Living, Not of the Dead 


“Is: not this the reason for your error,” Jesus 
answered them, “ that. you know not the Scripture 
nor the power of God? When they rise from the 
dead men do not marry, and women are not given 
in marriage, but they are as the angels are) in 
heaven. But im regard to the rising again of the 
dead, have you never read. in the Book of. Moses, 
in the passage about the Bush, how God. spoke to- 
him,. saying, 

“Tam the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, 
and, the God of Jacob? * 

God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. 
You are in grave error.” 


° 


What Is the Chief Commandment? 


Just then up came one: of the Scribes who had 
heard them. arguing, and. realized that. Jesus had, 
answered them admirably. “ What. commandment,” 
he asked, “is the first. of. all?” 

Jesus replied: ‘ The first is: 

“ Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God.is.one Lord; 
and thou. shalt, love the Lord: thy. God, with, all. thy 
heart, and with all thy soul;.and with all thy:mind, 
and with all thy strength. 

“The second is this, 

“ Thou. shall love thy, neighbor as thyself.2 Other. 
command greater than these there is none.” 

“ Admirably. said, O Teacher,’ exclaimed the 
Scribe. ‘“ You. have truthfully said that He is.one, 
and that beside him there is none other, and. to 


* Wxod? 36:1 2-6. 
=Denut.16 4,53 
5 Lev. 19 3 18. 


128 


3D 


36 


37 


38 


39 
40 


41 


42 
45 


MARK 12 


love him with all one’s heart and with all one’s 
understanding and with all one’s might, and to love 
one’s neighbor as oneself is far beyond’ all whole 
burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 

Jesus saw that he had answered with discrimina- 
tion, and said to him, 

“You are not far from the kingdom of God.” 

After that no one ventured to question him. 


David’s Son and David’s Lord 


While he was teaching in the Temple courts, 
Jesus in his turn asked: 
_ “ How is it that the Scribes say that the Christ is 
the son of David? David himself said in the Holy 
Spirit, 
“The Lord said to my Lord, 

‘Sit at my right hand 

Until I make thy foes the footstool of thy feet.’ ® 

“ David himself then calls him Lord; so how can 
he be his son? ” 


The Scribes Denounced 


Now the great mass of the people were wont to 
listen to him with delight; and in his teaching he 
said: 

“Look out for the Scribes who like to walk 
about in long robes, and to receive salutations in 
the street, and to have prominent places in the 
synagogues, and seats of honor at dinner-parties; 
they who consume the property of widows and 
make long, pretentious prayers. The greater shall 
their condemnation be.” 


The Widow’s Mite Measured and Appreciated 


Then Jesus took his seat opposite the treasury 
and watched the people putting their offerings into 
the chest. Many rich people were putting in large 
sums. There came also a poor widow who dropped 
in two little coins, worth a cent. On this he called 
his disciples to him, and said: 


o Pata. 1\ 
129 


44 


Ho Co 


“OO 


MARK 13 


“T tell you solemnly that this poor widow has put 
in more than all who have put their offerings into 
the tréasury; for they have all put in what they 
could spare out of their surplus, but she, out of her 
penury, has put in all that she possessed, her whole 
living.” 


XIII 


DISCOURSE CONCERNING THE DESTRUC- 
TION OF JERUSALEM, AND THE 
END OF THE AGE 


The Temple to Be Destroyed 


As Jesus was walking out of the Temple 
courts, one of his disciples said to him, ‘ Look, 
Teacher, what wonderful stones and _ buildings 
these are!” 

“You see these mighty buildings? There shall 
not be left here one stone upon another which shall 
not be thrown down,” he answered. 


Prediction About the Destruction of Jerusalem 


When he had seated himself on the Mount of 
Olives, facing the Temple, Peter and James and 
John and Andrew asked him privately, 

“Tell us when these things shall be, and what 
shall be the sign that all these predictions are 
about to be fulfilled.” 

So Jesus began to tell them: 

“Be ye watchful lest any one mislead you. Many 
will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and will 
mislead many. But when you hear of wars and 
rumors of wars do not be dismayed, such things 
must come, but the end is not yet. For nation shall 
rise in arms against nation, and kingdom against 
kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various 
places, and famines; these are the beginning of 
birth-pangs. 


1Isa. 19 ; 2. 
130 


i) 


10 
11 


12 


13 


14 


15 


16 
17 


18 


p19 


20 


21 


MARK 13 


Christ’s Witnesses Need Not Worry 


“You yourselves must be on your guard. They 
will hand you over to the courts, and you will be 
flogged in the synagogues; and you will stand 
before rulers and kings for my sake, to witness to 
them for me. But the gospel must first be pro- 
claimed to all the nations. When, however, they are 
leading you off to trial, do not worry beforehand 
about what you are to say, but whatever is given 
you in that hour, that say, for it is not you who 
speak, but the Holy Spirit. 


Endurance Means Triumph 


‘“ And brother will betray brother to death, and 
a father his child, and children will rise up against 
their parents,? and have them put to death. You 
will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but 
he that endures to the end shall be saved. 


The “ Abomination of Desolation ” 


“ But when you see the Abomination of Desoia- 
tion® ‘ standing where he ought not’ (let the reader 
ponder this), then let those in Judza flee to the 
mountains; let him who is on the housetop not go 
down, nor go in to get anything out of his house; 
and he who is in the field; let him not turn back 
to get his cloak. And alas for the pregnant women, 
and for those that are nursing their infants in 
those days! Pray that it may not come in the 
winter. For those will be days of suffering the 
like of which has never been from the beginning 
of God’s: creation until now, and never shall be. 
And had not the Lord cut short those days, not a 
single person would escape; but for the elect’s sake 
whom he has chosen, he has cut them short. 


False Christs 


“ At that time if any one tell you, ‘See, here is 
Christ,’ or ‘See, there he is,’ do not believe it; 


2Micah 7: 6. EMOnbw Shek Baye 
131 


22 


23 


24 
25 


26 
27 


28 


29 
30 


ol 
32 


33 
o4 


30 


36 
37 


MARK 13 


for false Christs and false prophets will arise and 
will show signs and wonders, to lead astray the 
very chosen, if they can. Be on your guard! I 
have told you it all beforehand. 


The Son of Man in Clouds 


“But when the tribulation is past, in those days 
the sun will be darkened and the moon will not shed 
her light, and the stars will be falling from the 
sky,* and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.° 
Then will they see the Son of man coming in 
clouds,’ with great power and glory. Then he 
will send forth the angels and gather his chosen 
from the four winds, from uttermost earth to 
uttermost sky. 


All to Happen Within the Generation then Living 


“From the fig tree learn now her parable; as 
soon as ever her branches are full of sap and 
bursting into leaf, you know that summer is near. 
So also do you, whenever you see these things hap- 
pening, know that He is near, at your very door. 
I tell you truly that the present generation shall 
not pass until all these things begin to happen. 
Earth and sky shall pass away, but my words 
shall not pass away. But eoncerning that day or 
that hour no one knows, not even the angels in 
heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take 
heed! Awake! for you never know the time. As 
a man gone abroad and leaving his house gives 
authority to his slaves, to each his task; and orders 
the porter to keep watch; keep watch then, for 
you do not know when the master of the house is 
coming—in the evening, at midnight, at cockcrow, 
or in the morning—lest he should come unexpectedly 
and find you sleeping; and what I say to you, I 
say to all: Be awake and on guard.” 


#fsa. 13 : £0. 
5Tsa. 34 3: 4. 
Oia, "6S aay 


182 


1 


MARK 14 


XIV 


THE LAST SUPPER AND THE BETRAYAL 
OF JESUS 


THURSDAY: A DAY OF PREPARATION * 


The Priests and Scribes Plot Against Jesus 


Now two days later was the feast of the Pass- 
over and of Unleavened Bread. Both the chief 
priests and the Scribes were continually seeking 
how they might arrest him by a stratagem and kill 
him; but, “ Not on a feast-day,” they said, “for fear 
there should be a riot among the people.” 


Mary’s :Costly Gift 

And while he was in Bethany, in the house of 
Simon the Leper, while ‘the was dining, a woman 
came with an alabaster vase of very costly, ‘pure 
spikenard perfume, and, breaking the ‘vase, she 
poured the perfume on his head. 

Some of those who were present said among 
themselves indignantly: 

“Why has the perfume been wasted like this? 
That perfume could have been sold for more than 
one hundred and fifty dollars, and given to the 
poor.” 


Mary’s Memorial 

So they began upbraiding her, but Jesus said: 

“Tet her alone. Why are you troubling her? 
She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you 
always have the poor among you, and can show 
them kindness whenever you wish, but me you will 
not always have. She has done what she could: 
she has before time anointed my body for my burial. 
I tell you in solemn truth that wherever the gospel 
is preached throughout the whole world, there what 
she has done shall be told in remembrance of her.” 


1It is probable that Wednesday was spent quietly in retire- 
ment at Bethany. 


133 


10 


an 


12 


13 
14 


15 


16 
aby 


18 


19 


20 
21 


MARK 14 


Judas Betrays Jesus 


Now Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went 
away to the high priests to betray Jesus to them; 
and they were glad when they heard it, and prom- 
ised to pay him money. So he kept looking for 
an opportunity to betray him. 


They Prepare for the Passover 


And the first day of the feast of Unleavened 
Bread, the day for killing the paschal lamb, his 
disciples asked him, “ Where do you want us to 
go and make preparation for you to eat the Pass- 
over?” 

Then he sent two of his disciples, and told them: 

“Go into the city, and you will meet a man 
carrying a jar of water. Follow him; and what- 
ever house he enters, say to the master of the house, 
‘The Teacher asks, “ Where is your guest-chamber, 
where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? ”’ 
He will himself show you a large, upper room, fur- 
nished and ready: there make preparation for us.” 

So the disciples went off, and came into the city, 
and found everything as he had told them. So 
they made ready the Passover, and as night fell he 
came, with the Twelve. 


The Last Supper 


While they were at the table, eating, Jesus said 
solemnly: 

“Tt is one of you who will betray me—one who is 
eating with me.” 2 

They began to be sorrowful and to say to him, 
one after another, 

“ Surely, not I?” 

“It is one of the Twelve,” said Jesus, “one who 
is dipping into the same dish with me. For the 
Son of man is going his way, as the Scripture says, 
but woe to that man through whom the Son of man 
is betrayed! It were good for that man if he had 
never been born.” 


2, Ps. 41229. 
134 


Swe a es re Se ee 


22 


23 
24 
25 


21 


28 
29 
30 


ol 


32 


33 
34 


35 


MARK 14 


The Memorial Meal 


And as they were eating he took bread, and after 
the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 

“Take it, this is my body.” 

Then he took a cup, and when he had given 
thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank of it, 
and he said: 

“This is my covenant blood, which is poured out 
for many. Solemnly I tell you I will drink no 
more of the fruit of the vine, until that day I drink 
it new in the kingdom of God.” 

Then they sang a hymn and went out to the 
Mount of Olives. 


Peter’s Denial Is Foretold 


And Jesus said to them: 

“ All of you are about to stumble, for it is written, 

“T will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be 
scattered abroad.* 

“ But after my resurrection I will go before you 
into Galilee.” 

“ Although they all stumble and fall, yet will not 
I,” answered Peter. 

Jesus said to him, “I tell you in solemn truth that 
you yourself, today, on this very night, before the 
cock crow twice, shall three times disown me.’ 

But Peter kept protesting passionately, “ Though 
I must die with you, I will not disown you!” 

And they all kept saying the same. 


The Agony in the Garden 


So they came to a place named Gethsemane, and 
he said to his disciples, “ Sit down here while I 
pray.” 

Then he took Peter and James and John with 
him, and began to be full of terror and distress; 
and he said to them: 

“My soul is full of anguish, even unto death; 
wait here, and keep watch.” 

So he went a little farther, and aa ah him- 


8 Zech, abesse Bitte 
135 


36 


37 


38 


39 
40 


Al 


42 


43 


MARK 14 


self upon the ground, he prayed repeatedly that, if 
it were possible, the hour might pass away from 
him. 

“ Abba, Father,” ‘he said, “ all things are possible 
with thee. Take this cup away from me. Yet not 
what I will, but what thou wilt.” 


“ The Suffering Saviour Watched Alone ” 


Then he came and found them asleep, and he said 
to Peter: 

“Are you sleeping, Simon? Could you not keep 
watch one hour? Keep watch, all of you, and pray 
that you may not come into temptation; the spirit 
is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 

Then he went away again and prayed, saying the 
same words; and when he returned he found them 
once more asleep, for their eyes were heavy with 
sleep, and they knew not what to say to him. 
Then he came the third time, and said: 

“Sleep on now, and take your rest! It is over. 
My hour is come. Look! the Son of man is betrayed 
into the hands of sinners. Rouse yourselves, let us 
go. See! my betrayer is at hand.’ 


The Arrest of Jesus 


At that instant, while he was yet speaking, Judas, 
one of the Twelve, came up, and with him a mob 
armed with swords and clubs, sent by the high > 
priests and Scribes and elders. Now the betrayer 
had given them a sign. ‘“ The one I kiss,” he said, 
“is the man. Arrest him, and take him away 
safely.” . | 

So he came and going straight up to Jesus he said, — 
“ Rabbi,” and kissed him. Then they laid hands 
on him and took him. But one of the bystanders 
drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high | 
priest, and cut off his ear. | 

But Jesus interposed, saying’: 

“Are you come out to arrest me with swords 
and clubs, as if I were a robber? Day after day 
I was face to face with you in the Temple courts, — 


186 





50, 


52 


53 


~—~éO4 


55 


56 
57 


88 


59 
— 60 


61 


| 62 


68 


MARK 14 


teaching, and you did not seize me. But this is done 
that the Scriptures might. be fulfilled.” 

51 Then they all forsook him and fled. One young 
man, however, began following him, with only a 
linen sheet thrown round his naked body. They 
seized him, but he left the linen sheet and fied 
away naked. 


Jesus Arraigned Before the High Priest 


Then they took Jesus to the high priest, and all 
the chief priests and elders and Scribes came with 
him. Peter also had followed Jesus at a distance, 
until he was inside the court of the high priest. 
There he was sitting among the officers, warming 
himself in the light of the fire. 


The False Witnesses Do Not Agree 


Meanwhile the high priests and all of the San- 
hedrin were trying to get evidence against Jesus, 
so as to have him put to death, but they found 
none; for though many gave false witness against 
him, their testimony did not agree. Some came for- 


ward and swore falsely, saying, 


“ We heard him say, ‘I will tear down this temple 
made by hands, and in three days I will build an- 
other temple not made by hands.’” But even their 
evidence did not agree. 

Then the high priest rose and stood forth among 
them. 


The High Priest Questions Jesus 


“ Have you no answer to make?” he asked Jesus; 
“ What is it that these testify against you? ”’ 

But he remained silent, and answered nothing. 

Again the high priest questioned him. ‘“ Are you 
the Christ,” he said, “the Son of the Blessed? ” 

“T am,” Jesus answered, “and you all shall see 
the Son of man seated on the right hand of Power, 
and coming with the clouds of heaven.” f 

Then the high priest tore his vestments. “Why 


*Ps, 110 : 1; Dan. 7 : 13. 
137 


64 
65 


66 
67 


68 


69 
70 


71 


1 


MARK 15 


do we need any further witness?” he exclaimed. 
“Did you hear his blasphemy? What is your ver- 
dict?” 

Then they all condemned him to be worthy of 
death. Some began to spit on him, and to blindfold 
him while striking him and saying, ‘“ Prophesy.” 
The officers, too, received him into custody with 
blows. 


Peter’s Denial 


Now while Peter was below in the courtyard, 
there came one of the maid servants of the high 
priest, and saw Peter warming himself. She looked 
at him, and said, “ You too were with that Naza- 
rene, Jesus.” 

But he denied it. He said: “I don’t know. I 
don’t understand what you are. saying.” Then he 
went out into the porch, and the cock crew. 

Again the maid servant saw him, and began 
again to tell the bystanders, “He is one of them.” 

A second time he continued to deny it. After 
a little the by-standers began to say to Peter again, 

“Surely you are one of them, for you are a Gah- 
lean.” 

But he began with curses and solemn oaths to 
say, “I do not know the man you are talking about.” . 
At that instant for the second time a cock crew. 
Then Peter recalled the word which Jesus had 
spoken to him, “ Before the cock crows twice you > 
will disown me thrice.” And as he thought of it, he | 
began to weep aloud. 


XV 


TRIAL AND DEATH AND BURIAL 
OF JESUS 


FRIDAY: A DAY OF CRUCIFIXION 


Jesus Is Taken to Pilate 
As soon as it was dawn, after the high priests 
had conferred with the elders and the whole San- 


138 


iy 
Se 





MARK 15 


hedrin, they bound Jesus, and took him away, and 
handed him over to Pilate. 

Pilate questioned him, “ Are you the King of the 
Jews?” 

In reply Jesus said, “It is as you say.” 

When the chief priests continued making many 
accusations against him, Pilate repeatedly ques- 
tioned him. “Do you make no answer?” he said, 
“ See, how many accusations they are making.” But 
Jesus no longer made any answer, at which Pilate 
wondered. 


Christ or Barabbas 


Now at the time of the feast it was customary 
to release to them a prisoner, whatever one they 
asked for. A man named Barabbas was there in 
prison, with some rioters who had committed murder 
during an uprising. So when the crowd went up 
and began asking Pilate to follow his usual custom, 
he asked them, 

“Do you wish me to release the King of the 
Jews?” 

For he recognized that it was through spite that 
the high priests had handed him over. But the 
chief priests incited the crowds to have Barabbas 
released to them, instead. 

So Pilate spoke to them once more, 

“What then shall I do to him you call ‘ King of 
the Jews’?” 

Then they shouted again, “ Crucify him!” 

“ Why, what wrong has he done?” Pilate kept 
saying. 

But they shouted furiously, “ Crucify him! ” 

So Pilate, who wished to make himself strong 
with the crowd, released Barabbas to them, and 
gave Jesus over for crucifixion, after he had 
scourged him. 


The Thorn-crowned Saviour 


The soldiers then led him away into the court- 
yard (Pretorium), and called together the whole 


17 battalion. They clothed Jesus in purple, and plaited 


139 


18 
19 


20 


21 


22 
23 
24 


25 
26 


27 
29 


MARK 15 


a crown of thorns, and placed it on his head. Then 
they began to salute him. “Hail, King of the: 
Jews,” they said. They kept striking him on the 
head with a rod, and spitting upon him; and on 
bended knees they did him homage. And after 
their sport with him, they stripped off the purple 
robe, and put on his own clothes, and led him out 
to crucify him. 


Simon Carries the Cross of Jesus 


Simon a Cyrenian, a passer-by, who was coming 
from the country (the father of Alexander and 
Rufus), they commandeered to carry the cross of 
Jesus. So they led him to the place called Gol- 
gotha—a name which means “the place of a skull.” 
There they attempted to give him wine mingled 
with myrrh; but he refused it. Then they cruci- 
fied him, and divided his garments among them, 
casting lots upon them to see what each should take. 

It was nine o’clock in the morning when they 
crucified him. Over his head there was written the 
words of the charge against him: 


“THE KING OF THE JEWS” 


He Is Reviled Upon His Cross 


Now with him they crucified two robbers, one on 
his right hand and one on his left." And the passers- 
by kept jeering at him, wagging their heads and 
Saying: 

“Ah! you who were to ‘destroy the sanctuary 
and rebuild it in three days,’ save yourself! Come 
down from the cross! ” 

In the same way the high priests also, as well 
as the Scribes, kept on mocking him to themselves. 
“He saved others,” they said, “‘ but himself he can- 
not save. The Christ! The King of Israel! Let 
him now come down from the cross, that we may 
see and believe.” 

They also who had been crucified with Jesus kept 
reviling him. 


1 Verse 28 is lacking in the most ancient manuscripts. 


140 


MARK 15 


“Tmmanuel’s Orphaned Cry” 
99 At noon a darkness came over the whole coun- 
34 try, lasting until three in the afternoon. At. three 
o’clock Jesus cried:in a loud voice, 
“ Bloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? ” which means, 
“ My God, my, God, why. hast. thow forsaken me?” * 
25. When they heard this, some of the bystanders 
said, 
. “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” 
96 Then a man ran and filled a sponge full of sour 
wine, and put it on a stick, and offered it to him 
__ to-drink,. saying, 
“ Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take 
him down! ” 
97 But Jesus uttered a loud ery and expired. 
88 And the curtain of the Sanctuary was torn in two 
from top to bottom. 


The Centurion’s Saying 
89. Then the army captain, who was standing facing 
Jesus when he thus died, said, 
“In truth this man was a Son of God.” 


The. Watching Women 
40 There were some women also watching. from a 
distance. Among,.them were both Mary Magdalene, 
and Mary the. mother of. James. the. younger and 
_of. Joses, and Salome, women. who used. to follow 
him when he was in Galilee,.and minister to him; 
and many other women who. had come up to Jeru- 
salem with him. | 


EE Re OE OO ee ee = 


The Tomb of Joseph of Arimathea 

Toward sunset, as it was the preparation (that is 
the day preceding the Sabbath), there came Joseph 
of Arimathea, a Councilor, honorable in rank, who 
was himself also looking for the kingdom. of; God. 
He boldly went. in to. Pilate to ask for the body ot 
Jesus. But Pilate wondered. whether he, were al- 
ready dead. So he summoned, the army captain, 


2 Pg 22 1. 
141 





45 
46 


47 


1 
2 
3 


8 


MARK 16 


and inquired if he had been any time dead; and 
when he learned the fact from the army captain, 
he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought 
him a sheet, and took Jesus down, wound him in 
the sheet, and laid him in a tomb which had been 
hewn out of a rock, and then rolled a stone against 
the opening of the tomb; and Mary Magdalene and 
Mary the mother of Joses were watching to see 
where he was laid. 


XVI 


THE RESURRECTION AND APPEARANCES 
OF JESUS 


SUNDAY: A DAY OF RESURRECTION 


The Angel of the Resurrection 


When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene 
and Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought 
Spices in order to go and anoint him. And very 
early in the morning, on the first day of the week, 
they came to the tomb as the sun was rising; and 
they kept saying to one another, 

“Who will roll away the stone for us from the 
door of the tomb?” 

But then as they looked up they saw that the 
stone, which was a very large one, was already 
rolled away; and upon entering the tomb they saw 
a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in 


a white robe. They were terrified, but he said to 


them: 

“Do not be terrified! You are seeking Jesus the 
Nazarene, who was crucified? He is risen; he is 
not here. See, the place where they laid him! 
But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 

““He is going before you into Galilee, where you 
will see him, as he told you.’ ” 

So they went out, and ran from the tomb, for 
they were trembling and amazed; and they said 
nothing to any one, for they were afraid of 





142 


——— ee * — 


9 
10 
11 


12 
13 
14 


15 


16 
in 


MARK 16 


APPENDIX? 


The Appearances of Jesus 


Now after his resurrection, early on the first day 
of the week he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, 
from whom he had driven out seven demons. She 
went and told those who had been with him, as 
they mourned and wept. But they, although they 
heard that he was living and had been seen by 
her, did not believe it. 

After this he appeared in another form to two 
of them as they were walking on their way into the 
country. They too went, and told the others; but 
they did not believe them, either. 

Afterward he appeared to the Eleven themselves, 
as they were eating, and reproached them for their 
lack of faith, and stubborn hearts, because they 
disbelieved those who had seen him risen. And he 
said to them: 


The Great Commission 

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to 
the whole creation. He who believes and is bap- 
tized shall be saved, but he who disbelieves shall be 
condemned. Moreover these signs shall follow those 


- who believe: They shall drive out demons in my 


18 


19 
20 


name; they shall speak with new tongues in for- 
eign languages; they shall pick up serpents, and 
if they drink any poison it shall not hurt them; 
they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall re- 
cover.” 

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to 
them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at 
the right hand of God. But they went forth and 
preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, 
and confirming the message by the miracles which 
followed. 

1 The closing verses of Mark’s Gospel are probably a later 
addition, and an attempt to complete what is evidently un- 


finished. There are considerable confusions and differences 
in the various texts. 


143 








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Probable Date: 
Writer: 


Characteristics: 


Symbol: 


Addressed To: 


Key Verse: 


About 69 A. D. 


Luke, a Greek physician, the com- 
panion of Paul, and writer of the 
Acts. 


A picture of the Ideal Man, the Sav- 
iour of the world. 

The Gospel of song, of childhood, of 
womanhood, of sympathy, of charm, 
of democracy, of the poor and lowly, 
of prayer, of universality. 

“The most beautiful. book in the 
world.” | 

Phrase, “The Son of man,” charac- 
teristic. 


The face of a man, the redeeming 
Kinsman, the “ Goel.” 


Supreme appeal to Greeks, as that of 
Matthew’s Gospel is to Hebrews, 
that of Mark to Romans, and that 
of John to Christians. 


“The Son of man is come to seek and 
to save that which is lost.” 


1 
2 


LUKE’S GOSPEL 


DEDICATION 


Seeing that many have taken it in hand to draw 
up an account of those matters which have been 
fully established among us, just as they reported 
them to us, who were from the beginning eye-wit- 
nesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to 
me also, after investigating the course of all things 
accurately, from the very beginning, to write them 
to you in order, most excellent Theophilus, so that 
you may know the certainty of the story which you 
have been taught by word of mouth. 


- 


3) 


16 
17 


LUKE 1 


I 


THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, AND 
THE ANNUNCIATION 


The Blameless Parents of John the Baptist 

In the reign of Herod, King of Judxa, there was 
a certain priest, named Zachariah, belonging to the 
class of Abijah. He had a wife named Elizabeth, 
who was a descendant of Aaron. They were both 
righteous in the sight of the Lord, walking in all the 
commandments and ordinances of the law, blame- 
less. Now they had no child, for Elizabeth was 
barren, and both were far advanced in years. 


An Angel Foretells John’s Birth 

Now while Zachariah was acting as priest before 
God in the due course of his class, it fell to his lot, 
according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter 
into the sanctuary of the Lord and to burn incense. 
And the whole multitude of the people were with- 
out, praying at the hour of incense. Then there 
appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on 
the right side of the altar of incense. And as he 
saw him Zachariah was troubled, and fear fell upon 
him. But the angel said to him: 

“ Do not be afraid, Zachariah, because your peti- 
tion has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will 
bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 

“And he shall be to you a joy and an exultation, 
and many shall rejoice over his birth. For he shall 
be great in the sight of the Lord, 

“He shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, 

“He shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the 
hour of his birth, 

“And shall win many of the sons of Israel to the 
Lord, their God. 

“He shall go before Him in the wisdom and power 
of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers 
to their children and the disobedient to the 
wisdom of the righteous, and so to make ready 
for the Lord a people prepared for him.” 


148 


18 


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20 


21 
22 


23 
24 


25 


26 
27 


28 


29 
30 


31 


32 


LUKE 1 


“ How shall I be sure of this?” said Zachariah to 
the angel. “For I am an old man and my wife is 
advanced in years.” 

“TI am Gabriel,” answered the angel, ‘‘ who stand 
in the presence of God; and I have been sent to speak 
to you and to bring you this good news. And now 
you shall be silent and unable to speak until the 
day when this has taken place; because you did not 
believe my words—words which will be fulfilled at 
their appointed time.” 


Zachariah Is Dumb 


Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zachariah 
and wondering why he stayed so long in the sanc- 
tuary. And when he came out he could not speak to 
them, and then they knew that he had seen a vision 
in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and 
remained dumb. As soon as his term of priestly 
service was ended he went home; and after those 
days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid her- 
self five months, saying: 

“This has the Lord done for me. He has now 
deigned to take away my reproach among men.” 


An Angel Foretells Jesus’ Birth 


Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent by 
God to a town in Galilee, called Nazareth, to a 
maiden betrothed to a man named Joseph, a de- 
scendant of David. Her name was Mary. The 
angel went in and said to her: | 

“Joy to you, highly favored one! The Lord is 
with you.” 

Mary was greatly agitated at his word, and was 
revolving in her mind what this salutation could 
mean, when the angel said to her: 


The Annunciation 

“ Fear not, Mary, for you have found grace with 
God. And behold, you shall conceive in your womb 
and bear. a son; and you shall call his name Jesus. 
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the 


149 


LUKE 1 


Most High. And the Lord God will give him the 

82 throne of his forefather David, and he shall reign 
over the House of Jacob forever; and of his king- 
dom there shall be no end.” 

34 And Mary said to the angel: — 

“How can this be? For I have no husband?” 

35 “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you,” said the 
angel, “‘and the power of the Most High shall over- 
shadow you, and therefore the holy offspring which 
is to be born, shall be called the Son of God. 

386 And behold your kinswoman, Elizabeth, she also 
has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the 

37 sixth month with her that was called barren. For 
no word of God shall be void of power.” 

38 Then Mary said: 

“ Behold, I am the Lord’s slave. Let it be to me 
as you have said.”’ 
Then the angel departed from her. 


Mary Seeks Elizabeth 


39 Soon after this Mary set out and hastened unto 
40 the hill-country to a town in Judah; and thére she 
came into the house of Zachariah, and greeted Eliza- 
41 beth. And when Elizabeth heard her salutation, the 
babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth herself was 
42 filled with the Holy Spirit, and called out with a 
loud ery: 
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is 
43 your unborn child! But why is this honor done me, 
that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 
44 For behold when the sound of your salutation 
reached my ears, the babe leaped with joy within 
45 my womb. And blessed is she who believed that the 
Lord’s words spoken to her would be fulfilled.” 
46 Then Mary said: 


Mary’s “ Magnificat ” 


“My soul doth magnify the Lord, 
47 My spirit exults in the God, who is my Saviour, 
48 For he has regarded the humiliation of his slave, 
And from this hour all ages will count me blessed. 


150 


49 


50 


51 


52 


53 
54 
55 


56 


57 
58 


59 


64 


LUKE 1 


“For he who is mighty has done great things for 
me; 
And holy is his name. 
His mercy is unto generations and generations 
On those who reverence him. 


“He has showed strength with his arm: 
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of 
their hearts; 
He has put down princes from their thrones, 
And has exalted those of low degree. 


“The hungry he has filled with good things, 
But the rich he has sent empty away. 
He has helped Israel, his servant, that he might 
remember mercy, 
As he spoke to our forefathers, to Abraham and 
his offspring forever.” 


So Mary. stayed with Elizabeth about three months 
and then returned home. 


Birth of John the Baptist 


Now when the time of Elizabeth’s delivery was 
come, she gave birth to a son; and her neighbors 
and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his 
mercy toward her; and they rejoiced with her, and 
came on the eighth day to circumcise the child. 
They were about to call him “ Zachariah,” after his 
father, when his mother said, 

“No, he is to be called John.”’ 

Said they, ‘“ You haye no relative of that name! ” 
Then they asked his father by signs what he wished 
to call the child. So he asked for a writing-tablet, 
and wrote down, 

“ His name is John.” 


The Story Spreads Through Judea 


Every one was surprised, and at once his mouth 
was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, 


65 blessing God. And there came a great fear upon 


all in the neighborhood; and throughout the hill- 
151 


LUKE 1 


country of Juda all these sayings were much talked 
66 about. All who heard the story laid it up in their 
hearts, saying, 
“What, then, will this child be?” For the Lord’s 
hand was with him. 
67 And his father, Zachariah, was filled with the 
Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying: 


The “ Benedictus” of Zachariah 


68 ‘ Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, 
For he has visited and redeemed his people, 
69 And has raised up a mighty Deliverer for us 
In the house of his servant David, 
70 ##As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets 
Which have been since the world began 
71 To deliver us from our enemies, and from the 
power 
Of all who hate us. 


72 “He showed mercy to our forefathers, 
He remembered his holy covenant, 
73 The oath which he swore to Abraham, our fore- 
father, 
‘74 That we should be delivered out of the 
Hand of our enemies, 
And should serve him without fear, 
75 In holiness and righteousness before him 
All our days. 


76 “ And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the 
Most High, 
For thou shalt go before the Lord to prepare the 
way 
77 To give to his people a knowledge of salvation 
Through the remission of their sins, 
78 Through the heart of mercy of our God, 
Whereby the Dayspring from on high shall neal 
us, 
‘79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and in 
the shadow of death, 
And to guide our feet into the paths of peace.” 


152 


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11 
12 


LUKE 2 


And the child grew continually, and became strong 
in the Spirit, and remained ever in the desert till 
the day of his showing to Israel. 


II 


THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF JESUS 


“ Oh, Holy Night! ” 

In those days Augustus Cesar issued an edict for 
a census of the whole inhabited world. This was 
the first census, when Quirinius was governor of 
Syria. And every one went to be registered, each 
to the town to which he belonged. And Joseph also 
went up from Galilee, ovt of the city of Nazareth, 
into Judea, to David’s town of Bethlehem, because 
he was of the house and family of David. He went 
to be registered along with Mary, who was espoused 
to him, and was pregnant. But while they were 
there the days were fulfilled for her delivery. 
And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she 
wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him 
in a manger because there was no room for them 
in the inn. 


The Shepherds Hear Angels 


And there were in the same country shepherds 
abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks 
by night. When suddenly an angel of the Lord 
stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone 
round about them; and they feared with a great 
fear. 


The Sky Broadcasts the Wondrous Story 


The angel said to them: 

“ Have no fear, for behold, I bring you good tid- 
ings of a great joy, which shall be for all the 
people. For unto you this day there is born in 
David’s town a Saviour, who is the Anointed Lord. 
And this is the sign to you: You shall find a babe 
wrapped in swaddling-clothes lying in a manger.” 


153 


13 


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15 


16 
17 
18 
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20 


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24 


LUKE 2 


The Gloria 


And suddenly there was with the angel a multi- 
tude of the heavenly army praising God and saying, 
“Glory to God in the Highest, 

And in earth peace among men who please him.” 


The Shepherds Find Jesus 


Now when the angels had left them, and gone 
away to heaven, the shepherds said one to another, 

“Let us go now even to Bethlehem, and see this 
saying which has come to pass, which the Lord 
has made known to us.” 

So they made haste, and came and found Mary 
and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. When 
they had seen, they made known about the words 
which had been spoken to them concerning the child. 
And all who heard it were astonished at the things 
which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary 
treasured up all those words, often pondering on 
them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, 
glorifying God and praising him for all the things 
that they had seen and heard, even as it was told 
them. 


His Name Is Jesus 


When eight days had passed, and the time had 
come to circumcise him, he was called Jesus, the 
name given him by the angel before his conception 
in the womb. 


Mary Offers Two Doves 


And when the days for their purification accord- 
ing to the law of Moses had passed, they took him 
up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord, as it 
is written in the Law of Moses, . 

Every firstborn male shall be called holy to the 
Lord. 

And they also offered a sacrifice as commanded in 
the Law of the Lord, 

A pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons. 


+Hxod: 18 %' 2: 2Lev. 12: 8. 
154 


25 


26 


27 


34 


35 


36 
37 


38 


LUKE 2 


Simeon’s “ Nunc Dimittis ” 


Now there was in Jerusalem a man whose name 
was Simeon. He was righteous and devout, and 
was waiting for the consolation of Israel. The Holy 
Spirit was upon him. Now it had been revealed 
to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see 
death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And 
he came into the Temple, led by the Spirit. And 
when his parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do 
for him according to the custom of the law, he took 
him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 

“ Now lettest thou thy slave depart, O Master; 

According to thy word, in peace, 

Because my eyes have seen thy salvation, 

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all 

peoples ; 

A light for the unveiling of the Gentiles 

And the glory of thy people Israel.” 

And while his father and mother were marveling at 
the words that were spoken concerning him, Simeon 
blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: 


A Sword Shall Pierce Mary’s Heart 


“Behold, this child is set for the falling and 
rising up of many in Israel, and for a sign which 
is spoken against. Yea, and a sword shall pierce 
through your own soul also, that the thoughts out 
of many hearts may be revealed.” 


Aged Anna Testifies 


There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter 
of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was ad- 
vanced in age, having lived with her husband seven 
years, after her girlhood, and then being a widow 
even for fourscore and four years. She departed 
not from the temple, but worshiped with fasting 
and prayer, night and day. She came up at that 
very hour, and gave thanks to God, and spoke of the 
child to all who were looking for the redemption 
of Jerusalem. 


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LUKE 2 


Jesus Grows Physically and Spiritually 


As soon as all that the law required had been 
done, they returned to Galilee to their own town, 
Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, 
becoming full of wisdom, and the grace of God was 
upon him. 


Jesus Questions the Doctors 


Now his parents were accustomed to go up to 
Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. 
And when he was twelve years old they went up, 
as was customary, at the time of the feast. After 
spending the full number of days they started 
home, but the boy Jesus remained behind in Jeru- 
salem. Joseph and his mother did not know this, but 
supposed that he was in the company, and went a 
day’s journey. Then they hunted for him among 
his kinsfolk and acquaintance; and when they did 
not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, making 
anxious inquiry for him. On the third day they 
found him sitting in the Temple, among the Rabbis, 
both listening to them and asking them questions. 
All that heard him were amazed at his understand- 
ing and his answers. 


“ My Father’s Business ” 

When they saw him they were astonished, and his 
mother said to him, 

“Child, why have you treated us so? Behold 
your father and I have been looking for you in 
anguish.” 

He answered, 

“Why is it that you have been looking for me, did 
you not realize that I had to be in my Father’s 
house?” 

But they did not understand the words that he 
spoke to them. 


Jesus’ Obedience 


Then he went down with them, and came to 
Nazareth, and he was always obedient to them. But 


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LUKE 3 


his mother kept treasuring up all these incidents in 
her heart. And Jesus was ever advancing in wis- 
dom and in stature and in favor with God and man. 


Ill 
THE PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST 


John’s Voice Heard in the Desert 


Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius 
Cesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judza, 
and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother 
Philip, tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis, and 
Lysanias, tetrarch of Abilene; during the high 
priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of 
God came to John, the son of Zachariah, in the 
Desert. And John went into all the region about 
the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for 
the remission of sins. As it is written in the book 
of the prophet Isaiah: 

The voice of one crying in the desert, 

Prepare the way for God, make straight paths for 
him. 

Every ravine shall be filled up, 

Every hill and mountain shall be laid low, 

The crooked shall be made straight, 

And the rough roads smooth; 

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. 

So John used to say to the crowd of those who 
were going out to be baptized by him: 


The Axe Laid at the Root 


“You breed of vipers, who has warned you to flee 
from the wrath to come? Then bring forth fruit 
befitting your penitence, and do not begin to say to 
yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I 
tell you that God is able to raise up sons to Abra- 
ham out of these stones. And now truly the axe 
is already laid at the root of the trees. So every 
tree which is not bearing good fruit is cut down and 
thrown into the fire.” 


tI Sane 40 = 18-0. 
157 


LUKE 3 


The Crowd Questions John 


10 And the crowd began to ask him questions. 
“What shall we do then?” they asked. In reply 
he said to them: 
11 “If you have two shirts share with him who has 
none; and let him who has food do the same.” 


The Publicans Question 


12 There came to him publicans also to be baptized, 
and they said to him, 
“ Master, what must we do?” 
18 And he said to them, 
“ Exact no more than the sum allowed you.” 


The Soldiers Question 
14 The soldiers also repeatedly questioned him, say- 
ing, 
“And we, what shall we do?” 
“Do not intimidate any one,” he replied, “‘ nor lay 
false charges, and be content with your pay.” 


John Foretells the Work of Jesus 


15 And while the people were in expectation, and all 
men were debating in their hearts about John, 
16 whether perhaps he were the Christ, John answered, 
saying to all of them: 
“T indeed am baptizing you in water, but One is 
coming after me, mightier than I, whose shoe-latchet 
I am not worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you 
17 in the Holy Ghost and in fire. He has his fan in 
his hand to cleanse his threshing-floor thoroughly, 
and to gather the wheat into his- storehouse, but 
the chaff will he burn with unquenchable fire.” 


John Put in Prison 
18 With many other exhortations then John declared 
19 the gospel to the people; but Herod, the Tetrarch, 
when reproved by him because of Herodias, his 
brother’s wife, and because of all the wicked deeds | 
20 that he had done, added yet this above them all that | 
he shut up John in prison. | 


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LUKE 3 


The Baptism of Jesus 


Now after all the people had been baptized, and 
Jesus himself had been baptized and was praying, 
heaven opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form 
like a dove, descended upon him; and a voice came 
out of heaven, saying: 

“Thou art my Son, dearly beloved; in thee is my 
delight.” 


_ THE GENEALOGICAL TABLE OF JESUS 


And Jesus himself when he began to teach was 
about thirty years of age. He was the son (as it 
was supposed) of Joseph, 


the son of Heli, 30 son of Symeon, 
son of Matthat, son of Judah, 
son of Levi, Son of Joseph, 
son of Melchi, son of Jonan, 
son of Jannai, son of Eliakim, 
son of Matthias, 31 son of Melea, 
son of Nahum, son of Menna, 
son of Esli, son of Mattatha, 
son of Naggai, son of Nathan, 
son of Mahath, son. of David, 
son of Matthias, 382 son of Jesse, 
son of Semein, son of Obed, 
son of Joseph, son of Boaz, 
son of Joda, son of Salmon, 
son of Johann, son of Nahshon, 
son of Resa, 88 son of Amminadab, 
son of Zerubbabel, son of Admin, 
son of Shealtiel, son of Arni, 

son of Neri, son of Hezron, 
son of Melchi, son of Perez, 
son of Addi, son of Judah, 
son of Cosam, 34 son of Jacob, 
son of Elmadam, son of Isaac, 
son of Er,:: son of Abraham, 
son of Joshua, son of Terah, 
son of Eliezar, son of Nahor, 
son of Jorim, 35 son of Serug, 
son of Mathat, son of Reu, 

son of Levi, son of Peleg, 


36 


37 


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and 


3 


4 


5 


LUKE 4 


son of Eber, son: of Enoch, 
son. of Shelah, son of Jared, 
son of Cainan, son. of Mahalel, 
son. of Arpachshad, son of Kenan, 
son, of Shem, 38 son of Enos, 
son of Noah, son. of Seth, 
son of Lamech, son of Adam, 
son of Methuselah, son of God. 

IV 


THE TEMPTATION, AND OPENING DAYS 
OF JESUS’ MINISTRY 


Jesus Is Tempted , 


Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, came back 
from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the 
desert for forty days, all the time tempted by the. 
devil. He ate nothing during these days, and at 
the close of them he was hungry. 


1. Temptation in the Sphere of Bodily Appetite 


Then the devil said to him, 

“If you are the Son of God tell this stone to be- 
come bread.” 

And Jesus answered him, saying, 

“It is written that not by bread alone, shall man 
lave.” * 


2. Temptation in the Sphere of Personal Ambition 


And the devil led him up and showed him all the 
kingdoms of the inhabited earth in‘ an instant of 
time, and the devil said to him: — 

“To you will I give all this authority and this 
glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I 
give it to whomever I wish. If then you will wor- 
ship me, it shall all be yours.” 

“Tt is written,” answered Jesus, 

“Thou shalt worship the Lord, thy God,.and him 
only shalt thou serve.” ? 


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14 


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16 


18 


19 
20 


21 


LUKE 4 


3. Temptation in the Sphere of Intellectual Curiosity 


Then he brought him to Jerusalem, and caused 
him to stand upon the Temple roof, and said to him: 
“Tf you really are the Son.of God throw yourself 
down from here; for it is written, 
“ He shall give his angels charge of thee, 
To guard thee safely; 
They will bear thee up in their hands, 
Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” * 
“Tt has been said,” replied Jesus, 
“Thou shalt not tempt the Lord, thy God.” * 
So, after exhausting on him every kind of tempta- 
tion, the devil left him for a time. 


Beginning of Early Galilean Mgnistry 


Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit 
to Galilee, and his fame spread throughout. all the 
surrounding country,.and he began to teach in their 
synagogues, and was glorified by all. 


He Preaches in Nazareth 


Then he came to Nazareth where he had been 
brought. up: and, as was his custom, he entered into 
the synagogue on the Sabbath Day, and stood up to 
read. And there was handed him the roll of the 
prophet Isaiah; and unrolling it he found the place 
where it was written, 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me 

Because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to 
the poor, 

He has sent me to proclaim release to the prisoners, 

And recovery of sight to the blind; 

To set at liberty those that are bruised, 

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. 

Then rolling up the papyrus, he gave it back to the 

attendant and sat down. ‘The eyes of all in the 

synagogue were fixed on him, and he began to say to 

them, 

“ Today is this scripture fulfilled in your hearing.” 


- §Pg, 91 : 11, 123 Deut. 6 : 16. SIsanéb.: 1,2, 
161 


22 


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25 


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LUKE 4 


And they all spoke well of him, and marveled at 
the words of charm that fell from his lips. 
“Ts not this the son of Joseph? ” they asked. 


Jesus’ Challenge to Race Prejudice 


Jesus answered: 

“Doubtless you will quote the proverb to me, 
‘Physician, heal yourself! Do also here in your 
own country all that we hear that you have done in 
Capernaum.’ 

“I tell you in solemn truth,” he added, “that no 
prophet is acceptable in his own country. In very 
truth I tell you there were many widows in Israel 
in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were closed 
for three years apd six months, when a. great 
famine came over all the land; yet Elijah was not 
sent to any one of them, but only to a widow in Zare- 
phath in Sidon. ‘And there were many lepers in 
Israel in the days of the prophet Elisha, yet none of 
them was cleansed but only Naaman the Syrian.” 


The Response Runs True to Form 


When they had heard these words, those in the 
synagogue were filled with fury; they rose, hurried 
him outside the town, and brought him to the brow 
of the hill on which their city was built, intending 
to cast him down headlong. But he, passing ba ge 
the midst of them, took his departure. 


A Demoniac Cured at Capernaum 


Then he went down to Capernaum, a city of Gali- 
lee, and continued to teach the people on the Sab- 
bath Days. They were deeply impressed by his 
teaching because his speech was with authority. 
And there was in the synagogue a man possessed by 


the spirit of a foul demon. He cried out, in a loud | 


voice, saying: 

“Ha! Jesus of Nazareth, what business have you 
with us? Are you come to destroy us? I know 
you who you are, you holy one of God!” 

And Jesus rebuked him, saying: 


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LUKE 4 


“Be quiet! Come out of him. 

And when the demon had thrown the man down 
before them, he came out of him without doing him 
any harm. All were amazed, and began to ask one 
another, saying: 

“ What is this word? For with authority and 
power he commands the unclean spirits and they 
come out,” 

And the talk about him kept spreading into every 
locality in the surrounding country. 


Peter’s Mother-in-law Healed 


Now when he rose and left the synagogue, he 
entered into the house of Simon, where Simon’s 
mother-in-law lay sick of a great fever. And they 
kept entreating him for her. And he stood over her 
and rebuked the fever, and it left her; and at once 
she arose and began to minister unto them. 


“ The Sick at Set of Sun” 


At sunset all they who had any sick with any sort 
of disease brought them to him; and he laid his 
hands on every one of them and healed them. 
Demons also came out of many, screaming and 
saying, 

“You are the Son of God.” 

But he rebuked them, and did not permit them to 
speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. 


The Crowd Seek Him in the Desert 


And when it was daybreak he left the town, and 
went away to a solitary place; and the crowd kept 
seeking him. Coming at length upon him, they at- 
tempted to detain him so that he should not leave 
them. But he said to them: 

“TI must preach the gospel of the kingdom of 
God to the other towns also; for that is what I 
was sent to do.” — 

So he continued to preach in the synagogues of 
Galilee. 


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LUKE 5 
V 
JESUS, THE GREAT PHYSICIAN 


Jesus Calls Three Disciples 


On one occasion when he was standing by the lake 
of Gennesaret, the crowd pressed upon him to 
listen to the word of God. But he saw two fish- 
ing-boats on the shore of the lake; the fishermen had 
disembarked, and were washing their nets. He 
went on board one of the boats which belonged to 
Simon, and asked him to push out a little way from 
land. Then he sat down and continued to teach the 
crowd from the boat. When he had finished speak- 
ing, he said to Simon, 

“Push out into deep water, and let down your 
nets for a haul.” 

“Master,” answered Simon, “although we toiled 
all night, we took nothing; but at your bidding I 
will let down the nets.’ 

And when they had done this they enclosed a 
great multitude of fish; and their nets began to 
break. So they motioned to their partners in the 
other boat to come and help them. They came and 
filled both boats, so that they began to sink. When 
Simon Peter saw this he fell down at the knees of 
Jesus, exclaiming, 

“Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful 
man! ” 

(For he was amazed, and all who were with 
him, at the haul of fish which they had made; 
and so were Simon’s partners, James and John, sons 
of Zebedee.) But Jesus answered Simon: 

“Fear not; from this time on, you will be catch- 
ing men,” 

So when they had brought their boats to land they 
left everything and followed him. 


Jesus Heals a Leper 
Another time when he was in one of their cities, 
there was a man there full of leprosy. And, upon 


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LUKE 5 


seeing Jesus, he fell: on ‘his face and implored 
him. 

“ Lord,” he said, “if only you choose you can 
make me clean.” 

And he stretched out his hand and touching him, 
said: 

“TI do choose; be made clean.” 

And instantly the leprosy left him. Jesus ordered 
him to tell no one, 

“Bunt be off,” he said, “show ‘yourself to the 
priest, and make the offering for your cleansing, as 
Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.” 


Jesus Prays in Solitude 


But all the more the report about him.continued 
to. spread; and great crowds began to come together 
to hear him, and to be healed of their infirmities. 
But Jesus himself habitually witndrew into. solitary 
places, and there used to pray. 


A Paralytic Borne of Four 


One day he was teaching, and near to him were 
seated Pharisees and teachers of the Law, who had 
come from every village of Galilee and Judea and 
from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was with 
him to heal. And behold there came men carrying a 
paralytic on a bed; and they tried to bring him and 
lay him before Jesus, but they could not because 
of the crowd. So they went up on the roof, and 
let him down through the tiling, with his bed, into 
the crowd, before Jesus. 

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, 

‘‘ Man, your. sins are forgiven you!” 

And the Scribes and Pharisees began to cavil. 

“Who is this?” they asked, “‘ speaking blasphe- 
mies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?.” 


Jesus Exercises His Divine Power 


Conscious of their cavilings, Jesus answered, say- 
ing: 
* What is this caviling in your hearts?) Which is 


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LUKE 5 


easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, 
‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that 
the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive 
sins (he said to the paralytic), 

“I bid you rise, take up your bed, and go to 
your house.” 

And instantly he arose up before them, took up 
what he had been lying on, and went away to his 
house, glorifying God. Astonishment fell upon them 
all, and they began to glorify God, and they were 
filled with awe, and they said, 

““We have seen strange things today.” 


Jesus Calls Matthew, the Tax-gatherer 


After this he went forth and noticed a tax- 
gatherer, named Levi, sitting at the tax-office, and 
said to him, “ Follow me.” 

He rose, left everything, and followed him. Levi 
also made him a great reception at his house. 
There was a large party of tax-gatherers and others 
who were dining with them.’ And the Pharisees 
and their scribes began complaining to his disciples, 
saying, 

“Why are you eating and drinking with tax- 
gatherers and sinners? ” 

Jesus answered them saying: 

“ They who are well have no need of a physician, 
but they who are ill. I am not come to call the 
righteous but sinners, to repentance.” 


The Disciples Fast Not 


Again they said unto him: 
“Why do the disciples of John fast frequently, 
and make supplications, as also do the disciples of 
the Pharisees, but your disciples are eating and 

drinking? ” 

“Can you make the bridal party fast,” he asked, 
“while the bridegroom is still with them? © But 
there is coming a day when the Bridegroom will 
have been taken away from them; then at that time 
they will fast.” 


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LUKE 6 


New Wine in Old Bottles 


He also told them a parable. ‘No one,” he said, 
“tears a piece from a new garment, and patches 
it upon an old one; otherwise he will tear the new 
garment, and the patch from the new will not mend 
the old. Nor does any one pour new wine into old 
wine-skins; otherwise the new wine will burst the 
skins, and will itself be spilled, and the skins be 
destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh 
wine-skins. And no man after drinking old wine, 
wishes for new; for he says, ‘ The old is better.’ ” 


VI 


JESUS, THE GREAT TEACHER 


Plucking Wheat on the Sabbath 


It happened that on a Sabbath he was going 
through the wheat-fields. His disciples were picking 
the ears and eating the wheat, rubbing it out with 
their hands. And some of the Pharisees asked, 

“Why are you doing what it is not lawful io do 
on the Sabbath? ” 

“Have you never read,” answered Jesus, “ what 
David did when he and his followers were hungry? 
How he entered into God’s house and took and ate 
the Presented Loaves, and gave some to his fol- 
lowers, loaves which none must eat but the priests? 

“ THE SON. OF MAN,” he told them, “1s LORD EVEN 
OVER THE SABBATH.” 


The Man with a Withered Hand 


On another Sabbath he went into a synagogue 
and was teaching; and there was there a man 
whose right hand was withered. Now the Scribes 
and Pharisees kept watching to see if he would 
heal on the Sabbath, so that they might be able to 
bring an accusation against him. He was all along 
aware of their thoughts; and he said to the man 
with the withered hand, 


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LUKE 6 


“Rise, and stand there in the midst.” 

So he rose and stood. Then Jesus said to them: 

“T ask you whether it is lawful on the Sabbath 
Day to do good or to do harm? To save a life or to 
destroy it?” 

Then he looked round about on them in anger, and 
said to him, 

“ Stretch out your hand!” 

He did so; and his hand was restored. But they 
were filled with fury, and they began to talk over 


together what they could do to Jesus. 


12 


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15 


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> 


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dt) 


20 


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Twelve Missionaries Called 


It happened about that time that he went out 
into the mountain to pray. He continued all night 
in prayer to God. And when day dawned he called 
his disciples, and from among them: he selected 
twelve, whom also he called Apostles [mission- 
aries].! They were Simon, whom he had also called 
Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; 
Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas, 
James the son of Alphzus, Simon called the Zealot; 
Jude the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who was 
the traitor. With these he came down till he 
reached a level place, where there was a great 
crowd of his disciples and a great many people from 
all Judea and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of 
Tyre and Sidon. These came to hear him, and to 
be healed of their diseases. Those who were tor- 
mented by unclean spirits were healed also. The 
whole crowd were trying to touch him, because 
power emanated from him and cured them all. 


The Sermon on the Plain 


Then raising his eyes upon his disciples he began 
to say to them: 
“‘ Blessed are you poor, 
For the kingdom of God is yours. 
“Blessed are you who are hungry now, 
1The word apostle is derived from the Greek, and the word 


missionary from the Latin; both mean the same. thing— 
‘one sent,”’ 


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LUKE 6 


' For you shall be filled. 
“ Blessed are you who are wailing now, 
For you shall laugh. 
22 “Blessed are you when men shall hate you, 
And excommunicate you and reproach you, and 
cast out your name as evil because of the 
Son of man. 
23 “ Rejoice in that day and exult, 
For your reward is great in heaven; 
For even so did their fathers to the prophets. 
24 “But woe to you rich! 
For you already have received your consola- 
tion. 
25 ‘Woe unto you who are full now! 
For you shall suffer hunger. 
“Woe to you who are laughing now! 
For you shall wail and weep. 
26 “Woe to you when all men shall speak well of 
you! 
For even so did their fathers to the false 
prophets. 


The Law of Love 


at “ But to you who are listening to me I say, 
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate 
you, 
28 Bless those who curse you, pray for those who 
calumniate you. 
29 To him who gives you a blow on the jaw 
Turn the other jaw also; 
And from.him who is robbing you of your cloak 
Withhold not your coat also. 
30 Give to every one who asks you; 
And do not demand your goods back from him 
who is taking them away. 
31 And as you would like men to do to you, 
So do you also.to them. 


God’s Mercy Our Measure 


32 ‘If you love those who love you what credit is 
it to you? 
Why even sinners love those who love them. 


169 


LUKE 6 


33 “And if you are kind to those who are kind to 

you, what credit is it to you? 
Even sinners do the same. 

34 “And if you lend to those from whom you are 
hoping to receive, what credit is that to 
you? 

Even sinners lend to sinners, so as to get as 
much. back. 

35 “ But you must love even your enemies and be 
kind to them, 

And lend, despairing of no man. 

Then your reward will be great, 

And you will be the sons of the Most High; 

For he is kind even to the ungrateful and to 
the evil. 

36 Do you therefore be merciful, 

As your Father is merciful. 


We Get What We Give 


37 “ Do not judge, and you shall not be judged; 

Do not condemn, and you shall: not be con- 
demned; 

38 Pardon, and you shall be pardoned; 

Give, and gifts shall be given to you; 

Full measure, pressed down, shaken together, 
running over, they shall pour into your 
bosom. 

For with what measure you measure, they will 
measure back to you.” 


THREE PARABLES OF WARNING 


1. The Splinter and the Beam 


39 He also told them a parable: 
“ Can a blind man lead a blind man? 
Will they not both fall into a pit? 
40 “There is no disciple who is above his master; 
But every one when he is completely trained 
will be like his master. 
41 “And why do you look at the splinter that is in 
your brother’s eye, but never consider the beam that 
42 is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your 


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46 
47 


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49 


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LUKE 7 


brother: ‘Brother, allow me to pull that splinter 
out of your eye,’ when you do not see the beam 
in your own eye? Hypocrite! Take out first the 
beam from your own eye, and then you will see 
clearly to take out the splinter from your brother’s 
eye. 


2. Trees and Men Are Known by Their Fruit 


“ For there is no good tree which bears worthless 
fruit, nor again any worthless tree which bears good 
fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. You 
do not gather figs from thorns, and grapes are not 
plucked from a bramble-bush. The good man out 
of the good treasure-house of his heart brings forth 
good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure- 
house of his heart brings forth evil; for the mouth 
speaks out of the abundance of the heart. 


3. Built on Rock, or on Sand 


“And why are you calling me Lord, Lord, and 
not doing what I tell you? I will show whom the 
man that comes to me, and listens to my words, and 
does them, is like. He is like a man who is building 
a house who digged and went deep and laid a foun- 
dation upon rock. And, when a flood came, the tor- 
rent dashed against that house, but could not move 
it, because it had been founded upon rock. But he 
who listens but does not do, is like a man who 
built a house upon the soil, without foundations, 
against which the torrent burst, and at once it fell 
in, and the ruin of that house was great.” 


VII 
JESUS, THE FRIEND OF SINNERS 


He Heals the Centurion’s Slave 

After he had ended all his sayings in the hear- 
ing of the people, he went to Capernaum. Here the 
slave of a certain [Roman] captain, a man dear to 
his master, was ill, and at the point of death. So 


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LUKE 7 


when the captain heard about Jesus, he sent elders 
of the Jews to him to ask him to come and save his 
slave. And they, when they ‘reached’ Jesus, asked 
him earnestly to do this. . 

‘‘ He deserves that you should do this,” they said, 
“for he loves our nation, and himself has built a 
synagogue for us.” 

So Jesus started to go with them, but while he 
was now not far from the house, the captain sent 
friends to him with this message: 

“Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not fit 
that you should come under my roof, and so I) did 
not think myself worthy to come to you; but speak 
the word, and let my man be cured. For I also 
am a man obedient to authority, and have soldiers 
under me. And I say to one, ‘ Go,’ and he goes; 
to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, 
‘Do this or that,’ and he does it.” 

Rut when Jesus heard this he was’ astonished, 
and he turned and said to the crowd that was fol- 
lowing him, 

“T tell you that not even in Israel have I found 
faith like that.” 

And those who had been sent, on returning to the 
house, found the slave well. 


The Widow of Nain’s Son 


Soon afterward he went to a city called Nain, 
accompanied by his disciples, and a great crowd of 
people. Now when he drew near the gate of the 
city, behold, they were carrying out one who was 
dead, the only son of his mother, and she a widow. 
A great crowd accompanied her. And when the 
Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said 
to her, 

“Do not weep.” 

And he came near and touched the bier; the 
bearers stopped, and he said, 

“ Young man, I bid you rise.’ 

And he who was dead sat up Bh: began to speak ; 
and he gave him to his mother. And awe took hold 
on them all, and they began to glorify God, saying: 


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LUKE 7 


“A great prophet has arisen among us;” and, 
“God has visited his people.” 

And the report of what Jesus had done went forth 
throughout Judza and the surrounding regions. 


John Sends Messengers 

John’s disciples brought him word of all these 
things, and, calling a certain two of his disciples 
to him, he sent them to Jesus, to say, 

“ Are you ‘the Coming One,’ or are we to expect 
another? ” 

So the men came to Jesus and said, 

“John the Baptist sent us to you to ask if you 
are the Coming One, or if we are to expect an- 
other.” 

At that moment Jesus was healing many people 
of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and to 
many that were blind he was freely giving their 
sight. So he answered them: 


Credentials of the Gospel 

“Go your way, tell John what you have seen and 
heard. How the blind are seeing, the lame are walk- 
ing, the lepers are being cleansed, the deaf are hear- 
ing, the dead are being raised, and the poor are 
hearing the proclamation of glad tidings. And 
blessed is he who finds no cause of stumbling in me.” 


Jesus’ Witness to John 

When John’s messengers were gone he began to 
speak to the crowds about John, saying, 

“ What went you out to the desert to behold? A 
reed shaken by the wind? But what went you out 
to behold? A man clothed in soft robes? 

“ Behold, men who are gorgeously dressed and 
live in luxury are in kings’ palaces. 

“But. what went you out to see? <A prophet? 
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he 
of whom it is written: 

“ Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, 

Who shall prepare thy way before thee.' 


Males 7018 
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LUKE 7 


“T tell you that among all that are born of 
woman not one is greater than John; yet he that is 
but little in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 


A Querulous Generation 


On hearing this all the people and the tax-gath- 
erers acknowledged the justice of God by being bap- 
tized with the baptism of John; but the Pharisees 
and lawyers who had refused his baptism, frus- 
trated God’s purpose for themselves. 

“To what then shall I compare the men of this 
generation?” said the Lord; ‘‘ To what are they 
like? They are like children sitting in the market- 
place and calling to one another. 

““* We have piped to you,’ they say, ‘and you 
have not danced; we have wailed, and you did not 
cry.’ 

“For John the Baptist has come eating no bread, 
and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a 
demon!’ The Son of man has come eating and 
drinking, and you say, ‘ Behold, a gluttonous man 
and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sin- 
ners! ’ 

““ Nevertheless, wisdom is justified by all her chil- 
dren.” 


Jesus Dines at Simon’s House 


One of the Pharisees kept urging him to dine, so 
he entered the house and reclined at table. Now 
there was a woman who was in the city, a sinner, 
and when she knew that Jesus was reclining at 
meat in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an ala- 
baster vase of perfume, and standing behind, at his 
feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her 
tears, and to wipe them with her hair, while she 
tenderly kissed his feet, and poured the perfume 
over them. When he noticed this, the Pharisee, who 
had invited him, said to himself, 

“Tf this man were really a prophet he would 
have perceived who and what sort of a woman 
this is who is touching him, and would know that 
she is a sinner.” 


174 


LUKE 8 


Parable of the Debtors 


40 Jesus then spoke to him: 
“‘ Simon, I have a word to say to you.” 
“ Rabbi, say on,” he replied. 
41 “There were once two men,’ said Jesus, “in 
debt to one money-lender. One owed him fifty 
42 pounds; the other five. When they had nothing to 
pay he forgave them so freely. 
“Tell me, then, which of these will love him 
most? ” 
43 “TI take it,” said Simon, “the one he freely for- 
gave the most.” 
44 “You have rightly judged,” answered Jesus, and 
turning to the woman, he said to Simon: 


Love, the Measure of Forgiveness 


“Do you see this woman? When I came into 
your house you gave me no water for my feet; but 
she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped 
them with her hair. 

45 “You gave me no kiss; but she, since she came in, 

46 has never ceased tenderly kissing my feet; you 
never anointed my head with oil; but she has 
anointed my feet with perfume. 

47 “This is why I tell you that her sins, many as 
they are, are forgiven, for her love is great; but 
he who is forgiven little, loves but little. 

48 ‘Your sins are forgiven,” he said to her: Then 

49 the other guests began to say among themselves, 

“Who is this who even forgives sins? ” 

50 But he said to the woman: “ Your faith has saved 
you. Go on into peace.” 


| VIII 


JESUS, THE LORD OF LIFE AND OF 
NATURE 


A Second Preaching Tour in Galilee 


1 It happened shortly afterwards that he began to 
go from town to town and village to village, preach- 


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LUKE 8 


ing and telling the good news of the kingdom. of God. 
The Twelve were with him, and certain women 
whom he had delivered from evil spirits and various 
diseases: Mary of Magdala, out of whom seven 
demons had been driven, and Joanna, the wife of 
Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many 
other women, who used to minister to him out of 
their substance. ! 


Parable of the Sower 

As a great crowd was gathering, and men of 
town after town kept resorting to him, he spoke a 
parable to them: 

“A gower went out to sow his seed, and as he 
sowed some fell by the wayside, and was trodden 
under foot, and the wild birds ate it up. Some other 
seed: dropped on the rock, and as soon as it grew,. 
it: withered away, because it had no moisture. An- 
other part fell among the thorns; and the thorns. 
grew with it and choked it. But some fell on, good. 
soil, and grew up, and brought forth fruit, a hun-. 
dredfold.” 

When he said this, he called out, 

‘Whoever has ears to hear with, let him listen.” 


The Interpretation. of the Parable 

Then his disciples began to interrupt him, saying, 

‘What does this parable mean? ” 

He answered: 

“To you it is given to understand the mysteries. 
of the Kingdom of God; but all. others. are taught 
in parables so that seeing they shall not see,, and 
hearing they shall not understand. This is the 
meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of 
God. Those by the wayside are people who hear, 
but then comes the devil and carries off the word 
from their heart, so that they may not believe and 
be saved. Those on the rock are people who, upon 
hearing, receive the word with joy; but they have: 
no root. For a time indeed they believe, but in 
time of temptation they fall away. And that which 
fell upon thorns is tose who have: heard, but as. 


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LUKE 8 


they go on their way the word is choked with the 
cares and riches and pleasures of life; so they bring 
no fruit to perfection. And that.in the good soil is 
those who have listened to the message and, in an 
honest and good heart, hold it fast, and bring forth 
fruit with patience. 


Lamps Are for Lamp-stands 


“When he lights a lamp no one covers it with 
a vase or hides it under a bed; he puts it on a 
lamp-stand so that whoever enters may behold the 
light. 

“For there is nothing hidden that shall not be 
disclosed; there is nothing secret which shall not 
be made known and come to light. Take heed, then, 
how you listen: for he who has, to him shall it be 
given, but from him who has not, shall be taken 
away even what he has.” 


Jesus’ Relatives Seek Him 


There came to him his mother and his brothers, 
and they could not reach him because of the crowd. 
But some one told him, 

“Your mother and your brothers are standing 
outside, desiring to see you.” 

“My mother and my brothers,’ he answered, “ are 
those who listen to the word of God and obey it.” 


“The Winds and the Waves Obey His Will” 


Now it happened that on one of these days he got 
into a boat, and with him his disciples, and he said 
to them, 

“Tet us cross to the other side of the lake.” 

So they set sail. While they were sailing he fell 
asleep. And there fell upon the lake a squall of 
wind, so that the boat began to fill, and they to be 
in deadly peril. Then they came to him and woke 
him, saying, 

' “Master, Master, we are lost! ” 

Then he awoke, and rebuked the winds and the 
raging of the sea. They ceased, and there was a 
calm. 


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LUKE 8 


“Where is your faith?” he asked them. In their 
terror they were filled with amazement, and said 
to one another, 

‘Who is this who commands even the winds and 
the sea, and they obey him? ”’ 


The Man Who Lived in the Tombs 


Then they put in at the country of the Gadarenes, 
which is across from Galilee. When he landed here 
he was met by a certain townsman who was pos- 
sessed by demons. For a long time he had worn 
no clothes nor lived in any house, but in the tombs. 
When he saw Jesus he cried out, and fell down be- 
fore him, and in a loud voice exclaimed: 


‘‘ What have we to do with you, Jesus, you Son . 


of God Most High? I implore you to torment me 
not!” For Jesus was already commanding the un- 
clean spirit to come out of the man. For many 
times it had seized him and held him, and they had 
again and again kept him under guard, and put 
him in chains and fetters. But he would break 
his bonds asunder, as he was driven by the demon 
into the deserts. So Jesus asked him, 

‘What is your name?” 

And he answered, “‘ Legion” (for many demons 
had entered into him). 

So they besought Jesus not to command them to 
go away into the abyss. 

Now there was a great herd of swine feeding 
on the hillside, and the demons begged him to give 
them leave to enter them. He gave them leave. 
The demons came out of the man, and entered into 
the swine; the herd rushed violently down over the 
cliff into the lake. 


Hogs Mean More than Men 


And those who saw what had happened fled and 
reported it in the town and villages. Then the peo- 
ple came out to see what had happened, and came to 
Jesus, and found the man out of whom the demons 
had gone sitting clothed and in his right mind, at 
the feet of Jesus. And they were terrified. 


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LUKE 8 


Then those who had seen it told them how the 
demon-possessed man was saved. And the whole 
populace of the Gadarenes and of the surrounding 
territory besought Jesus to go away from them; for 
they were terror-stricken. So he entered a boat and 
returned. 


“Go Home to Your Friends” 


But the man out of whom the demons had gone 
kept begging him that he might be with him. But 
Jesus sent him away, saying, 

“Return to your home, and tell them all that 
God has done for you.” 

So he went away and throughout the whole city he 
published how much Jesus had done for him. 


The Prayer of Jairus for His Daughter 


And as Jesus returned the crowd welcomed him; 
for they were all waiting for him. Just then there 
came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler in 
the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’ feet and 
begged. him to come into his house; for he had 
an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and 
she lay dying. But as he went the crowds continued 
to press in on him. 


“She Only Touched the Hem of His Garment ” 


And a woman who for twelve years had had a 
hemorrhage, and had spent on doctors all that she 
had, but none could cure her, came close behind 
him, and touched the hem of his garment; and 
instantly the hemorrhage ceased. 

“Who is it that touched me?” said Jesus. 

And when everybody denied it, Peter said, 

“Master, the crowds are hemming you in and 
pressing upon you.” 

But Jesus said: 

“Some one did touch me; for I perceived that 
power was proceeding out of me.” 

Then the woman, who saw that she had not 
escaped notice, came trembling, and falling down 
before him, stated before all the people for what 


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LUKE 9 


reason she had touched him, and’ how she had been 
instantly healed. 

48 “Daughter,” he said, “your faith has made you 
well, go on into peace.” 


“ Little Daughter, Rise! ” 


49 As he was speaking some one came from the 

house of the ruler of the synagogue, saying: 
“Your daughter is dead! Do not trouble the 
Master.” y 

50 But Jesus heard and answered: 

“Have no fear. Only believe, and she shall be 
restored.” 

51 So he came to the house, and would not permit 
any one to go in with him except Peter and John 
and James, and the father and mother of the little 

52 girl. The people were all weeping and bewailing 
her, but he said: 

“Stop your wailing; for she is not dead, but 
asleep.” 

58 They began to laugh him to scorn, because they 

54 knew well that she was dead. But he took her by 
the hand and called to her, 

“Little daughter, rise! ” 

55 And her spirit returned and instantly she stood 

56 up. He bade them give her some food. Her parents 
were amazed; but he forbade them to tell any one 
what had been done. 


IX 
JESUS, THE CHRIST OF GOD 


The Twelve Commissioned 


1 Then he called the Twelve together, and gave 
them power and authority over all demons, and to 
2 heal diseases; and sent them out to preach the king- 
3 dom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said to 
them: 
“Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor 
bag, nor bread, nor money, and do not have two 


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LUKE 9 


A tunics. Into whatever house you enter, there stay, 


and thence depart. If any one will not receive you, 
shake off the dust from your feet as you leave this 
town, as a testimony against them.” 

So they went forth, and walked from village to 
village, preaching the gospel and healing every- 
where. 


Herod Hears of Jesus 


Now Herod, the Tetrarch, heard of all that was 
happening; and he was perplexed because .of its 
being said by some that John was risen from the 
dead; and by some that Elijah had appeared; .and 
by others that one of the ancient prophets was 
risen again. So Herod said, 

“T beheaded John, but who is this of whom I am 
hearing such reports? ” 

And he kept seeking to see him. 


Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand 


On their return the Apostles told him what they 
had done: and he took them and withdrew in private 
to a town called Bethsaida. But when the crowd 
learned this they followed him. He received them 
kindly and spoke to them concerning the kingdom 
of God, and healed those who needed to be restored 
to health. But now the day began to decline, and 
the Twelve came to him and said: 

“Send away the crowd so that they may go into 
the villages and surrounding country to lodge and 
buy provisions; for here we are in a solitary place.” 

“Do you yourselves give them food,” he answered. 

“We have nothing,” they replied, “except: five 
loaves and a couple of fish, unless you mean for 
us to go and buy provisions for all this crowd.” 
(For there were about five thousand men.) 

“Make them sit down in table-companies, of about 
fifty each,” he said to his disciples. 

This they did, and made them all sit down. 
Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and 
looking up to heaven, he blessed them, breke them 
in pieces, and began giving to his disciples to appor- 


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LUKE 9 


tion among the crowd. So they ate and were filled, 
all of them. And there was picked up that which 
remained over to them, of broken pieces, twelve 
basketfuls. 


Peter’s Confession of Christ 


Now it happened that while he was praying by 
himself, the disciples were with him, and he asked 
them a question: 

“Who do the crowd say that I am?” 

“John the Baptist,” they answered, “but others 
say Elijah, and others that one of the ancient 
prophets is risen again.” 

Then he said to them, 

“ But you, who do you say that I am?” 

Then Peter answered, saying, 

“The Christ of God.’ 


Jesus Foretells His Death 


Then he strictly forbade them to tell this to 
any one; and he said, 

“The Son of man must suffer much, and be re- 
jected by the elders and high priests and Scribes, 
and be put to death, and on the third day be raised 
again? 


The Law of the Cross 


And he said to all: 

“If any man wills to follow me, let him renounce 
self and take up his cross daily and follow me. 
For whoever wills to save his life shall lose it; 
and whoever loses his life for my sake shall save 
it. For-what shall it profit a man if he shall gain 
the whole world and lose or forfeit himself? For 
whoever is ashamed of me and of my teachings, 
of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he 
comes in his own and in his Father’s glory, and 
in that of the holy angels. But I tell you truly 
there are some of those standing here who will 
not taste of death till they see the kingdom of 
God.” 


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LUKE 9 


The Excellent Glory of the Transfiguration 


About eight days after this it happened that 
Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and went up on 
the mountain to pray. And as he was praying the 
appearance of his countenance became different, and 
his clothing became white and dazzling. And sud- 
denly there were two men talking with him, who 
were Moses and Elijah. These appeared in glory 
and talked about his departure which he was about 
to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those 
who were with him were heavy with sleep; but 
when they were fully awake they saw his glory, and 
the two men who were standing beside him. And 
when they were preparing to depart from him, Peter 
said to Jesus: 

“ Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us 
make three tents, one for you and one for Moses 
and one for Elijah ”—not knowing what he was 
saying. And while he was saying this, there came 
a cloud and began to overshadow them; and they 
were awestruck as they entered into the cloud. 
And a voice came out of the cloud, saying: 

“This is my Son, my chosen one; listen to him.” 

When the voice ceased Jesus was found ,alone. 
And they held their peace, and told no one at that 
time about what they had seen. 


A Demoniac the Disciples Could Not Cure 


It happened the next day, when they were come 
down from the mountain, that a large crowd came 
to meet him; and a man called out of the crowd, 
saying: 

“Teacher, I beg you to look upon my son; for 
he is my only boy, and behold a spirit seizes hold 
of him, and rudely he shouts out. It convulses 
him till he foams; indeed it will hardly leave off 
bruising him sorely. I begged your disciples to cast | 
it out, but they could not.” 

“O faithless and perverse generation,” said Jesus, 
“how long shall I be with you and bear with you? 
Bring your son to me.” 


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LUKE 9 


But while he was yet coming the demon dashed 
him down, and cruelly convulsed him. Then Jesus 
rebuked the unclean spirit, and cured the boy, and 
gave him back to his father. And they were all 
awestruck at the mighty power of God. 


Premonition of the Cross 


But while every one was marveling at what he 
was doing, he said to his disciples: 

“Let these words sink into your ears; for the 
Son of man is about to be betrayed into the hands 
of men.” 

But they did not understand this saying; it was 
hidden from them so that they perceived it not, and 
they were afraid to ask him about this saying. 


The Child in the Midst 


Now there arose a dispute among them as to 
which one of them was greatest. And Jesus, who 
knew the dispute that was in their hearts, took a 
young child, and placed him by his side; then 
he said to them: 

“Whoever will receive this little child in my 
name receives me; and whoever will receive me 
receives him that sent me. For it is the lowliest 
among you all who is great.” 


Intolerance Rebuked 
“Master,” said John, “ we saw a man who was 


casting out demons in your name, and we forbade | 


him, because he was not following with us.’ 
But Jesus said, “ Forbid him not, for he who is 
not against you is for you.” 


The Hostile Samaritan Village 


When now the time drew near for him to be | 
received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to. 
Jerusalem, and sent messengers before him. These | 
went and entered into a Samaritan village to make | 


ready for him. But they did not receive him be- 


cause his face was set to go to Jerusalem. And © 


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LUKE 10 


when his disciples, James and John, saw this they 
SAL sas 
“Lord, are you willing for us to bid fire come 
down from heaven and destroy them?” [as Elijah 
did.] But he turned and rebuked them [and said, 
“You know not what kind of spirit you share, for 
the Son of man came not to destroy men’s lives, 
but to save them.”]* And they went to another 
village. 


Christ’s Claim Is Supreme 


As they were going on their way, a man came 
to him and said, 

“T will follow you wherever you go.” 

“The foxes have their holes,’ Jesus answered, 
“and the wild birds have their nests, but the Son 
of man has not where to lay his head.” 

To another he said, “ Follow me!” But he re- 
plied, “ Permit me first to go and bury my father.” 
“Teave the dead to bury their own dead,” said 
Jesus to him, “go you and announce, far and wide, 
the kingdom of God.” 

And another man also said to him: “I will 
follow you, Lord; but first permit me to bid fare- 
well to those who are in my house.” But Jesus 
answered him, ‘“ No man who has put his hand to 
the plow and then looks back, is fit for the kingdom 
of God.” 


1 These words in brackets are found in some of the ancient 
manuscripts. 


Xx 
THE LAW OF LOVE, ILLUMINED 


The Seventy Sent Forth 


After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and 
sent them two by two before his face, into every 
city and place into which he himself intended to 
go. And he thus addressed them: 


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LUKE 10 


“ Therefore Pray 2 


“The harvest is abundant, but the harvesters 
are few: do you therefore pray the lord of the 
harvest to send forth harvesters into his harvest. 
Go your way; behold, I am sending you forth like 
lambs among wolves. Be carrying no purse, no 
bag, no shoes; and do not be saluting any one on 
your journey. 


Directions for the Journey 


“Into whatever house you first enter, say, ‘ Peace 
be to this house!’ 

“And if there be any son of peace there, your 
peace shall rest upon him; but if not it shall return 
to you. Stay in that same house, eating and drink- 
ing what they give: for the laborer is worthy of 
his hire. Do not go from house to house. 

“And whatever town you come to, and they 


receive you, eat whatever they put before you. 
Heal the sick in that town and tell them, The king- | 


dom of God draws near to you. 
“ But whatever town you enter, and ee do not 
receive you, go out into the streets and cry, ‘ The 


very dust of your town which clings to our feet | 
we wipe off as a protest; but know this, that the | 


kingdom of God is drawing near to you.’ 


“For I tell you that it will be more tolerable | 


for Sodom in that day than for that town. 


Opportunity the Basis of Judgment 


“Woe unto you, Chorazin! Woe unto you, Beth- | 


saida! For had the mighty works been done in 


Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would | 


have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and 


ashes. However, it will be more tolerable for Tyre | 
and Sidon in the judgment than for you. And you, 


Capernaum, shall you be exalted to heaven? No! 
you shall be brought down to Hades! 

“He who listens to you listens to me; and he 
who rejects you, rejects me; and he who rejects me 
rejects Him who sent me.” 


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LUKE 10 


The Seventy Return 


Then the Seventy returned with joy, saying, 
“Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your 
name.” 

And he said to them: 

“T watched Satan fall from heaven like a light- 
ning flash. Behold, I have given you the power to 
tread upon serpents and scorpions, and to trample 
on all the power of the enemy. In no case shall 
anything do you harm. Nevertheless, do not re- 
joice at this, that the spirits are subject to you; 
but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 


Christ Rejoices in Spirit 

In that same hour he thrilled with joy in the 
Holy Spirit. 

“JT praise thee, Father, Lord of heaven and 
earth,” he said, “for hiding these things from the 
wise and prudent, and for revealing them to babes. 
Yea, Father, for so it was well pleasing in thy 
sight! All things have been delivered to me by 
my Father, and no one knows who the Son is ex- 
cept the Father; and who the Father is except 
the Son, and he to whom the Son wishes to reveai 
him.” 

And turning to his disciples he said privately: 

“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 
For I tell you that many prophets and kings have 
longed to see what you see, and have seen it not; 
and to hear what you hear, and have heard it 
not.” 


‘Love to God and Man the Whole Law 


Then a certain lawyer stood up and tempted him. 

“Master,” he said, “what shall I do to inherit 
eternal life?” , 

And he said to him: 

“ What is written in the Law? What do you 
read there? ” 

“ You must love the Lord your God,” he answered. 
“with all your heart, and with all your soul, and 


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LUKE 10 


with all your strength, and with all your mind; and 
your neighbor as yourself.” + 

“You have answered right,” said Jesus, “do 
that, and you shall live.” 

But he, determined to justify himself, said to 
Jesus, 

“ But who is my neighbor? ” 

Jesus answered: 


The Good Samaritan 


“ A certain man was going down from Jerusalem 
to Jericho, when he fell among bandits who both 
stripped him and beat him, and went off: leaving 
him half dead. Now a certain priest chanced to 
be going down that way, but on seeing him he 
passed by on the other side. In like manner also 
a Levite who came to the spot, came and looked 
at him, and passed by on the other side. But a 
certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he 
was, and when he saw him he was moved with com- 
passion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, 
pouring on them oil and wine. He set him on his 
own beast, and took him to an inn, and took care 
of him. The next day he took out two silver pieces 
and gave them to the landlord and said, 

““Take care of him, and whatever more you 
spend I will repay it to you on my way back.’ 

“Which then of these three seems to you to have 
behaved like a neighbor to the man who fell among 
bandits? ” 

He replied, “The one who showed mercy on 
him.”’ . 

“Go, then,” said Jesus, “and do likewise.” 


Cumbered with Much Serving 


It happened as they went on their way that he > 
entered into a certain village where a woman named | 
Martha received him into her house. She had a 
sister called Mary, who after seating herself at the 
Lord’s feet was listening to his teaching. But 


1 Deut. 6: 5; Lev. 19 : 18. 
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LUKE 11 


Martha meanwhile was growing distracted about 
much serving. She came up to him and said: 

** Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me 
alone to do the serving? Come, tell her to take 
hold of her end of the work along with me.” 


41 ‘Martha, Martha,” said Jesus, “ you are anxious 
42 and worried about many things, only one thing is 


really necessary. Mary, moreover, has chosen that 
good part which shall not be taken away from her.” 


XI 
JESUS TEACHES HOW TO PRAY 


The Lord’s Prayer 


1 It happened that he was praying in a certain 
place, and when he stopped, one of his disciples 
said to him, 

“Master, teach us to be praying, just as John 
taught his disciples.” 

2 So he said to them: “ When you are praying, say, 
“Father, hallowed be thy name; 

May thy kingdom come, 
3 Give us day by day our bread for the coming day; 
4 Forgive us our sins; for we also ourselves forgive 
every one who has offended us; 
And bring us not into temptation.” 


Persistent Prayer 


5 He also said to them: 

“Suppose you have a friend and you go to him 
at midnight, and say to him, ‘ My friend, lend me 

6 three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine is come 
to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set 
before him.’ 

7 ‘And he from indoors shall answer: ‘Do not 
pester me. The door is.now closed, and my children 
are with me in bed. I cannot rise and give to you.’ 

8 “TJ tell you that, though he will not rise and give 
to him because he is his friend, yet because of his 


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LUKE 11 


importunate persistence he will rise and give him 
whatever he needs. 


Ask, Knock, Seek 


“So I say to you: 

“Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and 
you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened te 
you. For he that asks receives, and he who seeks 
finds, and to him who knocks the door shall be 
opened. 

“What father is there among you who, if his son 
asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he 


2 asks for a fish, will give him instead a serpent? Or, 


if he asks for an egg, will offer him a scorpion? 
If you give good gifts to your children, how much 
more shall your Father who is in heaven give the 
Holy Spirit to those that ask him! ” 


Not by Beelzebub Are Demons Expelled 


Once he was casting out a dumb demon, and 
when the demon was gone out, the dumb man spoke, 
and the people wondered. But some of them said, 

“It is by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that 
he casts out demons.” 

Others, tempting him, kept seeking from him a 
sign from heaven. He knew their intentions, and 
said to them: 

“Every kingdom divided against itself is laid 
waste, and house falls upon house. And if Satan 
also is divided against himself, how shall his king- 
dom stand? Do you say that I am casting out 
demons by the power of Beelzebub? If I then am 
casting out demons by Beelzebub, by whom are your 
sons casting them out? They therefore shall be your 
judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I 
am casting out the demons, then the kingdom of 
God is come upon you. | 


Indifference Is Really Opposition 


“When the strong man fully aroused keeps guard 
over his homestead, his property is undisturbed; but 


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LUKE 11 


when the stronger man attacks him, he takes away 
from him that strong armor in which he was trust- 
ing and divides up the spoil. 

“He who is not for me is against me, and he 
who is not gathering with me is scattering. 


The Peril of the Empty Life 


‘ Whenever a foul spirit is gone out of a man, it 
roams through waterless places, in search of rest; 
but when it can find none, it says, ‘I will go back 
to the house I have left.’ When it comes it finds 
the house completely swept and garnished. Then 
it goes off and fetches seven other spirits more 
wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. 
And the last state of that man is worse than the 
first.” 


The Truly Obedient Are the Blessed 


It happened while he was saying this, that a cer- 
tain woman out of the crowd shouted to him, say- 
ing, 

“Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the 
breasts that you have sucked.” 

“No, rather,” he answered, “blessed are those 
who listen to the word of God, and keep it.” 


A Greater than Solomon Is Here 


When the crowd were beginning to throng about 
him he proceeded to say: 

“This is an evil generation! It seeks a sign, 
and there shall no sign be given to it except the 
sign of Jonah; for as Jonah became a sign to 
the Ninevites, so shall the Son of man be to this 
generation. The queen of the South shall rise 
up in judgment with the men of this generation, 
and shall condemn them; because she came from 
the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of 
Solomon, and lo, one greater than Solomon is 
here! 

“The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judg- 
ment with this generation and shall condemn it, for 


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LUKE 11 


they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and lo! 
one greater than Jonah is here! 


Lamps Are for Lighting 


“When one lights a lamp he does not put it in 
a cellar nor under the bushel, but on a lamp-stand 
that those who enter may see the light. The lamp 
of the body is your eye; when your eye is single 
then your whole body is full of light; but when 
it is evil your whole body also is full of darkness. 
Look carefully! Perhaps that very light of yours 
is darkness! If, however, your whole body is full 
of light, without having any part dark, it will be 
wholly radiant with light, as when él pare illu- 
mines you with its bright rays.” 


Jesus Dines with a Pharisee 


When he had finished speaking a Pharisee asked 
him to dine with him; so he went in with him and 
reclined. And the Pharisee noticed, to his amaze- 
ment, that he did not wash his hands before eating, 
but the Lord said to him: 

“You Pharisees do cleanse the outside of the cup 
or plate, but your secret heart is full of extortion 
and wickedness. Foolish men! Did not He who 
made the outside make the inside also? Better 
cleanse what is within, and then nothing will be 
unclean for you.* 


Woes to Hypocrisy 


“ But woe unto you Pharisees! for you tithe mint 
and rue and every herb, and disregard justice and 
the love of God; but these you ought to have done, 
and not to leave the other undone. 

“Woe unto you Pharisees! for you delight in 


1The ordinary text, Sorte éAejnoovvnv (‘give alms’’) rep- 
resents the Aramaic zakki. But the Aramaic dakki (“ pu- 
rify ’’ or “ cleanse’’) suits the context better, and Wellhausen 
plausibly suggests that Luke has confused ‘ these two verbs 
which differ very little in sound and originally were identical.’ 
—Note in Moffat’s New Testament. 


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LUKE 11 


the best seats in the synagogue, and in the saluta- 

44 tions in the market-places. Woe to you! for you 
are like the tombs which are hidden, and men walk 
over them unsuspecting.” 


Woes Upon Conformity to Traditions 


45  Hereupon one of the lawyers exclaimed, 
“But, Teacher, in saying such things you are 
i reproaching us also.” 
46 ‘Woe unto you the lawyers also!” said Jesus, 
: “for you load men with irksome burdens, and you 
yourselves will not touch the burdens with one of 
your fingers. 
47 ‘Woe to you! for you are building the tombs of 
_ 48 the prophets whom your ancestors killed. So you 
are witnesses, and you consent to the actions of your 
ancestors: for they killed them, and you build their 
tombs. 


The Blood of the Martyrs Shall Be Required 


49 #=“ For this reason also said the Wisdom of God: 
£7 will send them prophets and apostles; some of 
4 them they will kill and some they will persecute; 
_ 50 so that the blood of all the prophets which was shed 
i from the foundation of the world may be required 
51 from this generation, from the blood of Abel to 
é the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the 
altar and the sanctuary; yes; I tell you, it shall be 
. required of this generation! ’ 

_ 52 “Woe to you lawyers, for you have taken away 
the Key of Knowledge; you yourselves have not 
entered, and you have hindered those who are try- 
ing to enter.” 


| The Plot Against Him 

58 #=After he had gone away, the Scribes and the 
Pharisees began to set themselves vehemently 
against him, and to cross-question him upon many 

54 points, lying in wait for him, in order to catch a 
word from his lips. 


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LUKE 12 


XII 
WARNINGS AGAINST WORLDLINESS 


Christ Warns Against the Leaven of the Pharisees 


1 Meanwhile when myriads of the multitude were 
thronging around him so that they trod one upon 
another, he began to say to his disciples, first of all: 

““ Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is 

2 hypocrisy. There is nothing hidden which shall not 
be revealed; nothing concealed that shall not be 

3 known. So that what you have said in the dark 
shall be heard in the light; and what you have 
whispered in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed 
from the housetops. 


Christ Warns Against Fear of Man 


4 “But I say to you who are my friends, do not 
be afraid of those who kill the body and after that 
5 have no more that they can do: I will warn you 
whom you ought to fear. Fear Him who, after he 
has killed, has power. to throw you into Gehenna. 
Yes, I tell you, fear him. 


Even Sparrows Are Not Overlooked 


6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? 
Yet not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God! 

7 But the very hairs of your head are all counted. 
Fear not! You are of more value than many spar- 
rows! 


Acknowledge Him Here; Acknowledged by Him There 


8 “And I tell you that whoever confesses me be- 
fore men, the Son of man will confess him before 

9 the angels of God; and whoever disowns me before 
men, shall be disowned before the angels of God. 

10 If any one shall speak a word against the Son of 
man it shall be forgiven him; but he who blas- 
phemes against the Holy Spirit shall not be for- 
given. 


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LUKE 12 


Words Shall Be Given in Hour of Need 


‘““And when they are bringing you before the 
Synagogues and the rulers and authorities, do not 
worry about how or what you shall answer; or 
what you shall say; for the Holy Spirit will teach 
you in that hour what you ought to say.” 


Warnings Against Covetousness 


Then one of the crowd said to him, 

“Master, tell my brother to give me my share of 
our inheritance.” 

“Man,” said he, “who made me a judge or 
arbitrator over you?” And to the people he said, 

“Take heed and guard yourselves from all covet- 
ousness, for a man’s life does not consist in the 
abundance of the things which he possesses.” 


Parable of the Rich Fool 


Then he spoke to them in a parable: 

“The ground of a certain rich man bore heavy 
crops. So he debated with himself saying, ‘ What 
shall I do? for I have no place in which to store 
my crops.’ 

“‘ And he said to himself: ‘ This is what I will do. 
IT will pull down my barns and build larger ones in 
which I will store all my wheat and my goods. 
And I will say to my soul, 

**¢ Soul, you have many goods laid up for many 
years! Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ 

“But God said to him: ‘ Foolish man! This very 
night. your soul is wanted! And these things you 
have prepared, whose shall they be?’ 

“So is he that lays up treasure for himself and 
is not rich toward God.” 


Flowers and Birds Look to God, Why Not We? 


Then he said to his disciples: 

“For this reason I say to you: Be not anxious 
for your life, what you shall eat; nor yet your body 
what you shall wear. For the life is more than 


24 food, and the body is more than clothes. Consider 


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LUKE 12 


the ravens; they neither sow nor reap; they have 
no storehouse nor barn. And yet God feeds them. 
How much more are you worth than the birds? 
25 And which of you by taking anxious thought can 
26 add a cubit to his height? - If then you cannot do 
even that which is least, why are you anxious con- 
cerning the rest? 


Faith Taught in the Flowers of the Field 


27 “Consider the lilies how they grow! They toil 
not, neither do they spin, yet I say to you that 
even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like 

28 one of these. Now if God so clothe the grass in the 
field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the 
oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of 
little faith? 


The Kingdom First: All Else, Secondary 


29 “So do not be asking what you shall eat, or 
what you shall drink, and be not of doubtful mind. 

30 For alli these things the nations of the world are 
seeking; but your Father knows that you have 

31 need of these things. But seek his kingdom, and 

32 these things shall be added to you. Fear not, my 
little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to 
give you the kingdom. 


The Heart Follows the Hoard 


33 “Sell what you have and give alms. Provide 
yourselves with purses which do not grow old, a 
treasure inexhaustible in the heavens, where no 

34 thief draws near, nor does moth destroy. For where 
your treasure is there will your heart be also. 


Watch for Your Master’s Return 


35 ©“ Let your loins be girded about and your lamps 
36 burning; and be yourselves like men who are look- 
ing for their lord, on his return from a wedding- 
banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they 
37 may at once open the door for him. Happy are 
those slaves whom their master shall find watching 
when he comes. I tell you truly that he will gird 


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LUKE 12 


himself, and make them sit down to meat, and 
come and serve them. And whether it be in the 
second watch, or in the third, that he comes, and 
so finds them, happy are those slaves. However, 
you know this, that if the master of the house had 
known in what hour the thief would come, he would 
have watched and not have allowed his house to be 
broken into. Do you also be ready, for in an hour 
that you think not the Son of man is coming.” 
“Master,” said Peter, “are you speaking this 
parable to us or to all alike?” The Lord answered: 


In an Hour that You Think Not 


“Who then is that faithful steward, the wise 
man whom his lord will put in charge of his house- 
hold to give out their rations in due time? Blessed 
is that slave whom his master on his coming shall 
find so doing. Of a truth I tell you that he will 
put him in charge of his possessions. But if that 
slave should say to himself, ‘My master delays his 
coming,’ and should begin to beat the men and the 
maids, and to eat and drink and to get drunk, that 
slave’s master will arrive on a day when he is not 
expecting him, and at an hour when he knows not, 
and will surely scourge him, and appoint him his 
portion with the unfaithful. 


The Law of Responsibility 

‘The slave who knew his Lord’s will, and made 
not ready, nor did according to his will, will be 
beaten with many lashes, but he who did not know, 
but did things worthy of a beating, will receive few 
lashes. To whom much has been given, from him 
much will be required, and to whom much is en- 
trusted, of him they will ask the more. 


The Irrepressible Conflict 

“Tt came to build a fire upon the earth; what is 
my desire? Would it were already kindled! But 
I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am 
I straitened till it is accomplished! Do you think 
that I am come to make peace on the earth? No, 


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LUKE 13 


I tell you, but rather dissension. For from this 
time there will be five in one house divided, three 
against two and two against three; father against 
son and son against father; mother against daugh- 
ter and daughter against her mother; mother-in-law 
against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law 
against her mother-in-law.’ 


Discerning the Signs of the Times 


Then he said to the crowds also: 

“When you see a cloud rising in the west you 
at once say, ‘ There is going to be a shower,’ and 
it comes to pass. And when you feel the south 
wind blowing you say, ‘ There will be a hot wind,’ 
and it comes to pass. Hypocrites! you know how 
to read the face of the earth and of the sky; but 
how is it that you do not know how to read the signs 
of this present time? 

“And why do you not, even yourselves, judge 
what is right? For as you go before the magis- 
trate with your opponent do your utmost to get quit 
of him, lest he drag you before the judge, and the 
judge delivers you over to the officer, and the officer 
casts you into prison. You shall by no means come 
out of there until you have paid the very last 
farthing.” 


XIII 
THE GOODNESS AND SEVERITY OF GOD 


Repent, or Perish Like the Galileans 


Now there were some present at that very season 
who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate 
had mingled with their sacrifies. 

“Do you suppose,” he answered them, “that those 
Galileans were worse sinners than the rest of the 
Galileans because they have suffered thus?. I tell 
you no; but unless you repent, you will all likewise 
perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in 
Siloam fell and killed them, do you suppose that 


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LUKE 13 


they were worse offenders than the rest of those 
who live in Jerusalem? I tell you no; but unless 
you repent, you will all perish as they did.” Then 
he gave them this parable: 


Parable of the Fruitless Tree 


“ A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, 
and he came to look for fruit on it, but found none. 
So he said to the gardener: 

““* See, for these years I have come looking for 
fruit on this tree, and found none. Cut it down. 
Why should it actually cumber the ground?’ 

“But the gardener answered him: ‘Lord, let it 
alone this year also, till I have dug around it, and 
fertilized it. If after that it bears fruit, well and 
good; but if not you shall cut it down.’” 


A Crippled Woman Cured 


Once when he was teaching in one of the syna- 
gogues, on the Sabbath, a woman was present who 
had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. She 
was bent double, and could not lift herself up at 
all. Jesus noticed her and called her to him and 
said, 

‘¢ Woman, you are free from your weakness.” 

Then he placed his hands on her, and she in- 
stantly stood upright and began to give glory to 
God. But the ruler of the synagogue was indignant 
at Jesus for healing her on the Sabbath, and said 
to the crowd: 

“There are six days of the week on which men 
ought to work. Therefore come during those, and 
get cured, but not on the Sabbath Day.” 

But the Lord answered him. 

“Hypocrites!” he said, “does not each one of 
you loose his ox or his ass from the stall on the 
Sabbath Day, and lead it away to water, and this 
woman, who is a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan 
has bound these eighteen years, ought she not to 
have been loosened from her bondage, though the 
day be the Sabbath? ” 

As he said this, all his adversaries were put to 


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LUKE 13 


shame; and all the crowd rejoiced for all the glori- 
ous things that he continually did. 
This led him to say: 


Parable of the Mustard-seed and the Leaven 


“ What is the kingdom of God like?) And to what 
shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard- 
seed, which a man took and cast into his own 
garden. It grew and became a tree, and the wild 
birds nested in its branches.” 

And again he said: 

“To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? 
It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in 
three measures of flour until the whole was leavy- 
ened.” 


Force Your Way in at the Narrow Door 


So he went on his way through cities and vil- 
lages, teaching as he journeyed toward Jerus..lem. 
And a man came to him and said, 

“ Lord, are there but few that are saved? ” 

“Struggle to enter in by the narrow door,’ he 
answered, ‘“‘for I tell you that many. will try to 
enter and not be able, when once the master of the 
house is risen up and has shut the door. You will 
begin to stand outside, and to knock at the door, 
crying, — 

“Lord, open to us.’ 

“*T do not know where you came from,’ he will 
reply. 

“ Then you will begin saying, ‘ But we have eaten 
and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in 
our streets.’ . 

“ But he will answer: 

_“©T tell you I do not know where you came from; 
depart from me, all of you, you evil-doers.’ There 
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you 
shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the 
prophets in the kingdom of God, and you your- 
selves cast out. And people shall come from the 
Orient and from the Occident, from the north and 
from the south, and sit down in the kingdom of 


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LUKE 14 


God. And lo, there are last which shall be first, 
and there are first which shall be last.” 


A Message to Herod Antipas 


That very day there came some Pharisees to him, 
saying, 

“Get out from here and go away, for Herod 
wishes to kill you.” 

“Go, tell that fox,” he answered, “‘ Lo, today 
and tomorrow I am continuing to cast out demons 
and perform cures, and on the third day I finish 
my course.’ 

“Yet I must continue my journey today, tomor- 
row, and the day following; for it would never do 
for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem! 


Jesus’ Lament for Jerusalem 


“© Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the 
prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How 
often would I have gathered your children, as a 
hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you 
would not! 

“Behold! Your house is left to you, desolate! 
I tell you that you shall never see me again until 
you say, 

“ Blessed is he that comes in the name of the 
Lord.’ * 


LJere2? 215 7s. 1118: 26: 


XIV 
JESUS’ TABLE TALK 


Jesus Heals Dropsy on the Sabbath 

It happened on a Sabbath Day when he went into 
the house of a certain ruler among the Pharisees 
to take a meal, that they were watching him. 
And lo! there was in front of him a man who had 
dropsy. So Jesus questioned the lawyers and the 
Pharisees, 


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LUKE 14 


“Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath Day or not? ” 

They kept silent. Then Jesus took him and healed 
him and let him go. And to them he said, 

“Which of you when.an ox or an ass has fallen 
into a well, will not at once pull him out on the 
Sabbath Day? ” 

They could not answer this. 


Place-hunters Rebuked 


He told a parable to the guests when he noticed 
how they began choosing the best seats. He said 
to them: 

“When you are invited by any one to a marriage- 
feast, do not sit down in the best seat, lest a guest 
more distinguished than yourself has been invited, 
and your host come to you and say, ‘ Give place 
to this man,’ and then with mortification you pro- 
ceed to take the lowest place. But when you are 
invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that 
when your host arrives he may say to you, ‘My 
friend, come up higher.’ Then you will be honored 
before the other guests. For every one who exalts 
himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles him- 
self shall be exalted.” 


True Hospitality 


Also to his host who had invited him, he con- 
tinued, saying: 

“When you are making a dinner-party or a sup- 
per, do not invite your friends, or your brothers, or 
your relatives, or your rich neighbors, lest it chance 
that they invite you in return, and a recompense 
be made you. But when you make a reception, in- 
vite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. Then 
you will be blessed, because they have no means 
to repay you, but you shall be repaid in the Resur- 
rection of the Just.” 

One of his fellow guests who was listening to 
him, said to him, 

“ Blessed are those who eat bread in the kingdom 
of God.” Jesus answered: 


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LUKE 14 


Self-excused from Participating 

“A certain man was making a great feast to 
which he invited many guests. At dinnertime he 
sent his slave to say to those who had been in- 
vited, ‘ Come, for all things are now ready.’ 

“And they all, without exception, proceeded to 
excuse themselves. The first told him: ‘I have 
bought a field, and must needs go and see it. Pray 
have me excused.’ 

“The second said: ‘I have bought five yoke of 
oxen and am on my way to try them. I pray that 
you will have me excused.’ 

“‘T have taken a wife,’ said another, ‘and for 
that reason I am unable to come.’ 

“So the slave came and presented all these an- 
swers to his master. Then the master of the house 
was indignant, and said to his slave, 

“Go out, quickly, into the streets and alleys 
of the city, and bring in hither the poor, the maimed, 
the blind, the lame.’ 

“ And the slave said, ‘My master, your orders 
have been carried out, but yet there is room.’ 

“ Said the master to his slave: ‘Go out into the 
roads and hedges, and make them come in, so that 
my house may be filled. For I tell you that not one 
of those invited guests shall taste my supper.’” 


Christ First; Christ Only 

Great crowds were going along with him, and he 
turned to them and said: 

“Tf any one comes to me and does not hate his 
father and his mother, his wife and children, his 
brothers and sisters, yes, and his own very life 
also, he cannot be a disciple of mine. Whoever does 
not carry his own cross and come after me, cannot 
be a disciple of mine. 


Count the Cost 

“Which of you who is desirous of building a 
tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, to 
see if he has the means to complete it? Lest it 
happen that after he has laid the foundations and 


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LUKE 15 


is unable to complete it, all who see it shall begin 
to jeer at him, saying, ‘ This fellow began to build 
and could not finish.’ 

“ Or what king as he goes forth to join battle 
with another king in war does not sit down first and 
deliberate whether he can meet with ten thousand 
men the one who is advancing against him with 
twenty thousand? If he cannot, while the other 
king is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy to 
ask conditions of peace. Just so any one of you who 
does not renounce all that he has cannot be a 
disciple of mine. 


Savorless Salt 


“ Salt is good, but if even the salt have lost its 
flavor, with what shall it be seasoned? It is fit 
neither for the land nor the dung-hill; men cast 
it out. He who has ears to hear, let him listen to 
this! ” 


XV 
THREE PARABLES OF REDEMPTION 


Now all the tax-gatherers and sinners continued 
to draw near to him, and to listen to him. And 
the Pharisees and Scribes began to complain, say- 
ing, “He is welcoming sinners and eating with 
them! ” 

And he told them a parable: 


1. The Lost Sheep 


“Which one of you men, if he has a hundred 
sheep, and has lost one of them, does not leave the 
ninety and nine in the desert and go after the 
lost one until he finds it? And after he has found 
it, he lays it on his shoulder, rejoicing. When he 
gets home he calls together his friends and his 
neighbors, saying, 

““¢ Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep 
that was lost.’ | 

“1 say to you that even so there shall be joy in | 


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LUKE 15 


heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over 
ninety and nine just persons who need no repen- 
tance. 


2. The Lost Coin 


“Or, again, suppose a woman has ten coins. If 
she loses one, does she not light a lamp and sweep 
the house, and search anxiously until she finds it? 
And when she has found it, she calls together her 
women friends and neighbors and says, ‘ Rejoice 
with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.’ 

“Even so I tell you there is joy in the presence 
of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” 


3. The Lost Son 


And he said: 

“There was a man who had two sons. 

“ The younger of them said to his father, ‘ Father, 
give me the share of your property which is coming 
to me.’ So he divided his means among them. 

“Not many days after that the younger son 
gathered everything together and took his journey 
into a distant country; and there he wasted his 
money in living unsavingly. After he had spent 
everything there came a terrible famine in that 
land, and he began to be in want. So he went 
and hired himself to one of the citizens of that 
land, who sent him out into his fields to feed swine. 
And he was longing to be filled with the husks 
which the swine were eating, but no one gave him 


17 food. When he came to himself he said: 


““How many of my father’s hired men have 
bread enough and.to spare, while I am perishing 
of hunger! I will rise and go to my father, and 
will say to him: “ Father, I have sinned against 
heaven and in your sight, I am no more worthy 
to be called your son; only make me like one of your 
hired men.’’’ 

““So he arose and went to his father; but while 
he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and 
was moved with compassion, and ran and fell on 
his neck and kissed him. 


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“The son said to him, ‘ Father, I have sinned 
against heaven and in your sight and am no more 
worthy to be called your son.’ 

“* Fetch the best robe, quick,’ said the father to 
his slaves, ‘and put it on him, and give him a ring 
on his finger, and shoes on his feet. Bring that 
fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make 
merry, for this son of mine was dead and is alive 
again—he was lost and is found.’ 

“So they began to make merry. But his elder 
son was in the field, and as he came and drew near 
to the house he heard music and dancing, and he 
summoned one of the slaves, and began to inquire 
of him what all this meant. 

““Your brother is come,’ he replied, ‘and your 
father has killed the fatted calf, because he has 
him safe and sound.’ 

“ But he was angry and would not go in; so his 
father came out, and attempted to plead with him; 
but he said to his father: 

“* All these years I have been slaving for you, 
and I have never disobeyed a command of yours. 
Yet you never gave me even a kid so that I might 
make merry with my friends. But when this son 
of yours came, who has devoured your property 
with harlots, you have killed for him the fatted 
calf.’ 

“*My dear son,’ answered his father, ‘you are 
always with me and all that is mine is yours. 
But it was fitting that we should make merry and 
rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is 
become alive; he was lost and is found.’ ” 


XVI 
PARABLES ABOUT PROPERTY 


The Unjust Steward 


To his disciples he said: 
“There was a certain rich man who had a 
steward, and this steward was accused to him of 


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LUKE 16 


wasting his property. He called him to him and 
said: . 

“* What is this that I hear about you? Render 
an account of your stewardship; for you can no 
longer be steward.’ 

“Now the steward said to himself: ‘ What shall 
I do, now that my master is taking away my stew- 
ardship? I am not strong enough to dig, to beg I 
am ashamed. I know what I will do, so that 
when I am put out of my stewardship, they may 
receive me into their houses.’ 

“ So he called to him each of his master’s debtors 
and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my 
master?’ 

“¢ A hundred measures of oil,’ he answered. 

“He said to him, ‘Take your bill and sit down 
quickly and write fifty.’ 
~ “To a second he said, ‘And how much do you 
owe?’ 

“The man answered, ‘A hundred measures of 
wheat.’ 

“« Here is your bill,’ he said, ‘change it to eighty 
measures.’ 

“ And the master praised the unjust steward be- 
cause he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this 
world are in relation to their own generation wiser 
than the sons of the light. | 


Faithful in Little, Faithful in Much 


“ And to you I say, Use mammon, dishonest as 
it is, to make yourselves friends, so that when it 
shall fail they will welcome you to the eternal 
tabernacles. 

“The man who is faithful in a very little is faith- 
ful also in much, and he who is unjust in a very 
little, is unjust also in much. If therefore you 
have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, 
who will trust to you the true riches? And if you 
are not faithful with what belongs to another, who 
will give you what is your own? No one can be a 
household servant to two masters; for either he will 
hate the one and love the other, or he will cling 


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LUKE 16 


to the one and despise the other. You cannot be 
the slave both of God and of gold.” 

Now the Pharisees who loved money listened to 
all this and they jeered at him. He said to them: 

“You are those that justify themselves in the 
eyes of men; but God knows your hearts; for that 
which is lofty in the eyes of men is an abomination 
in the eyes of God. 

“The Law and the Prophets lasted until John ; 
since then the gospel of the kingdom of God is 
preached, and any one presses in. Yet it is easier 
for heaven and earth to pass away than for one 
tittle of the law to fail. 

“Every man who divorces his wife and marries 
some one else, commits adultery; and he who mar- 
ries one who is put away from her husband com- 
mits adultery. 


Parable of Dives and Lazarus 


“Now there was a certain rich man who was 
clothed in purple and fine linen, and made merry 
every day in splendor. A certain beggar named 
Lazarus was thrown at his door. He was full of 
Sores, and longingly desired to be fed with the 
crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes! 
even the dogs came and licked his sores. 

“But in the course of time the beggar died; and 
he was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. 
The rich man also died, and was buried. And as 
he was tormented in Hades, he lifted up his eyes 
and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his 
bosom. 

“And he cried out and said, ‘ Father Abraham, 
have mercy on me; and send Lazarus to dip the tip 
of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am 
in anguish in this flame.’ 


A Great Gulf Fixed 


“* Remember, my son,’ said Abraham, ‘that you 
had in your lifetime all your good things, and in 
the same way Lazarus his evil things; but now 
here he is comforted, and you are in anguish. But 


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LUKE 17 


besides all this, between us and you there is a great 
chasm fixed, so that those who want to cross from 
here to you cannot, nor can those who would cross 
from you to us.’ 

““<T beg you then, father,’ he said, ‘send him to 
my father’s house. For I have five brothers. Let 
him earnestly warn them, lest they too come to 
this place of torment.’ 

“But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the 
Prophets, let them listen to them.’ 

“¢Nay, Father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if some 
one went to them from the dead they would repent.’ 

“<¢Tf they will not listen to Moses and the 
prophets,’ said Father Abraham, ‘neither will they 
be persuaded if one should rise from the dead.’” 


XVII 
KINGDOM TEACHINGS 


A Millstone About His Neck 

Jesus said to his disciples: 

“It is not possible but that occasions of stumbling 
should occur, but woe to him through whom they 
come! It were well for him if a millstone were tied 
about his neck, and he were hurled into the sea, 
rather than he should cause one of these little ones 
to stumble. Be on your guard! 


Forgiveness 
“If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he re- 
pents forgive him. And if he sins against you 
seven times a day, and seven times a day turns to 
you saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” 
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our 
faith! ” 


The Power of Faith 


“Tf your faith,” answered Jesus, “were like a 
grain of mustard-seed, you would say to this tree, 


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LUKE. 17 


‘Tear yourself up and be planted in the sea,’ and 
it would obey you. 


Plain Devotedaee to Duty 


“But who of you who has a slave plowing or 
keeping sheep, will say to him, when he is come 
in from the field, ‘Come at once, sit down to din- 
ner,’ and will not rather tell him, ‘ Get ready some- 
thing for me to eat, and gird yourself to wait on 
me until I have eaten and drunken. Then you shall | 
eat and drink.’ 

“Does he thank the slave because he did the 
things that were commanded? Even so, you also, 
after you have done all the things that are com- 
manded you, should say, ‘We are but slaves, we 
have only done what it was our duty to do.’” 


Where Are the Nine? 


Now it happened that as he went his way to 
Jerusalem, he passed between Samaria and Galilee. 
And as he was going into a certain village ten lepers 
met him. They stood at a distance and lifted up 
their voices, saying, 

“ Jesus, Master, take pity on us.” 

Perceiving this he said to them, 

“Go and show yourselves to the priests.” 

And as they went they were made clean. 

Now one of them, as he saw that he was cured, 
came back, glorifying God in a loud voice, and 
he fell on his face at the feet of Jesus and thanked 
him. He was a Samaritan. 

“Were there not ten cleansed?” asked Jesus, 
“but where are the nine? Are there none found 
to return and give glory to God except this for- 
elgner? ” 

And he said unto him, 

“Rise and go, your faith has healed you.” 


The Coming Kingdom 


The Pharisees asked him when the kingdom of 
God was coming. He answered: 
“The kingdom of God does not come so that you 


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LUKE 17 


can catch sight of it, nor will they say, ‘ Look, 
here it is!’ or ‘See there! ’—for the kingdom of 
God is now in your midst.” 


That Great Day 

Then he said, turning to his disciples: 

“The days will come when you shall long to see 
one of the days of the Son of man, and you shall 
not see it. And they shall say to you, ‘ Lo there! 
Lo here!’ But do not you go away or follow them. 
For as the lightning when it lightens out of the 
one part under heaven shines to the other part 
under heaven, so shall the Son of man be in his 
day. But first he must suffer many things, and be 
rejected by this generation. 


Compared to the Days of Noah 

“And as it was in the time of Noah, so will it 
be in the time of the Son of man. Men were eat- 
ing and drinking; they were marrying and being 
married, until the day that Noah entered into the 
ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 
The same was true in the time of Lot; they were 
eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting 
and building; but on the day that Lot left Sodom it 
rained fire and brimstone from heaven and de- 
stroyed them all. In the same manner it shall be 
in the day that the Son of man is revealed. On that 
day, if a man is on the housetop and his goods in- 
side, let him not go down to take them away; nor 
should a man in the field turn back. Remember 
Lot’s wife! 

“Whoever seeks to keep his life shall lose it; 
but whoever loses it shall preserve it. I tell you 
that in that night there shall be two men in one 
bed; one shall be taken and the other left. There 
shall be two women grinding together; the one 
shall be taken and the other left.’’* 

“Where, Master?” they asked him. 

“Where the dead body is,” he answered, ‘there 
will the vultures be gathered together.’ 


2 Verse 36 is wanting in the most ancient manuscripts. 


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12 


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LUKE 18 


XVIII 


TEACHINGS ON PRAYER AND DUTY 


The Parable of the Unjust Judge 


He also taught them by a parable how they ought 
always to pray and never to lose heart. 

“There was in a certain town,” he said, “a 
judge who had neither reverence for God, nor re- 
spect for man. In that same town there was a 
widow who came again and again before him, say- 
ing, 

““Do me justice of my adversary.’ 

“ For a while he would not, but afterwards he said 
to himself, ‘Though I have neither reverence for 
God nor regard for man, yet because this woman 
annoys me I will give her justice, lest by her con- 
tinual coming she wear me out.’ 

“Listen,” said the Lord, “to what this unjust 
judge says. And will not God see justice done to 
his elect who are crying unto him day and night, 
even if he seems to delay helping them? I tell you 
that he will quickly see justice done to his elect! ” 

“Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will 
he find faith upon the earth? ” 


The Pharisee and the Publican Pray 


Moreover he spoke this parable to some who 
trusted in themselves because they were righteous, 
and looked down upon the rest: 

“Two men were going up to the Temple to pray; 
the one a Pharisee, the other a tax-gatherer. The 
Pharisee stood apart and thus began to pray with 
himself: 

“*O God, I thank thee that I am not like the 
rest of men, extortioners, rogues, adulterers, or 
even like this tax-gatherer; I fast twice a week, I 
pay tithes of all my possessions.’ 

“ But the tax-gatherer, standing far back, would 
not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but kept 
beating his breast and saying, 


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LUKE 18 


““¢ OQ God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 

“JT tell you that this man went down to his house 
justified rather than the other; for every one who 
exalts himself shall be humbled; but he who humbles 
himself shall be exalted.” 


The Dawn of a New Day for the Child 


And they kept bringing their babies for him to 
touch them; but when his disciples saw it they began 
to rebuke them. But Jesus called for the babies. 

“ Let the little children come to me,” he said, “‘ do 
not hinder them; for of such is the kingdom of 
heaven. I tell you in solemn truth that whoever 
will not receive the kingdom of God like a little 
child, he will never get into it.” 


One Thing Lacking 


A ruler put this question to him: 
“Good teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal 


ites 74 


“Why are you calling me ‘good’?” said Jesus 
to him; “no one is good but God. You know the 
commandments: 

“Do not commit adultery, 

Do not murder, 

Do not steal, 

Do not bear false witness, 

Honor your father and mother.” * 

“All of these,” he replied, “I have kept from 
my youth up.” 

And receiving this reply, Jesus said to him: 

“ One thing you are still lacking. Sell all that 
you have and give it to the poor, and you shall 
have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow 
me.” 

But when he heard these words he became deeply 
grieved, for he was exceedingly rich. Jesus looked 
at him and said: 

“How hard it is for those who have money to 
enter into the kingdom of God! Why, it is easier 


1Bxod. 20: 12-16. 
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LUKE 18 


for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than 
for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” 
“Who then can be saved? ’”’ exclaimed his hearers. 
“Things that are impossible with men,’’ he an- 
swered them, “are possible with God.” 


Self-sacrifice and Its Reward 


Then Peter said, 

‘“‘ Look! we have left our homes and followed you.” 

And he said to them, 

“In solemn truth I tell you that there is no one 
who, for the sake of the kingdom of God, has left 
houses, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, 
who shall not certainly receive many times as much 
in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” 


Jesus Predicts His Death 


Then he took the Twelve aside and told them: 

“ See, we are on our way to Jerusalem, and all 
the things that are written through the prophets 
regarding the Son of man will be fulfilled. He 
will be betrayed to the Gentiles, and be mocked, and 
shamefully treated, and spit upon; and they will 
scourge and kill him; and the third day he will rise 
again.” 

But they understood none of these sayings. His 
words were a mystery to them, and they did not 
know what he meant. 


Blind Bartimeus Receives Sight 


As Jesus drew near to Jericho, there was a blind 
man who sat by the wayside begging. He heard 
the crowd passing and asked what the matter was. 
They told him, 

“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 

Then he shouted out, saying, 

“Jesus, son of David, take pity on me!” 

Those who went ahead began to reprove him and 
to tell him to be still; but he kept clamorously 
shouting all the more, 

“Son of David, take pity on me! ” 

So Jesus stopped and ordered him to be brought 


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LUKE 19 


to him. When he was come near to him he asked 
him, 
“ What do you want me to do for you?” 
“Lord,” he answered, “that I might see again.” 
“Receive your sight,” said Jesus, “ your faith 
has healed you.” 
Instantly he regained his sight and followed 
Jesus, giving glory to God; and all the people who 
saw it gave praise to God. 


XIX 
THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM 


Zaccheus Climbs a Tree 


So he entered Jericho and was passing through 
the town. There was a man there, called Zaccheus, 
who was a chief of the tax-gatherers, and was 
wealthy. And he kept trying to see what sort of a 
man Jesus was; but he could not see because cf the 
crowd, because he was short. So he ran on before 
him and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him; 
for he was about to pass that way. 

As soon as Jesus came to the place, he looked 
up and said to him, 

“Come down quickly, Zaccheus, for today I must 
stay at your house.” 

He made haste to climb down, and received him 
joyfully. When they all saw it, they began to com- 
plain, saying, 

“He has gone in to lodge with a man who is a 
sinner.” 

But Zaccheus stood up and said to the Lord, 

“TI give half my property to the poor, Lord, and 
if I have defrauded any man of anything I am re- 
storing it to him fourfold.” 

“Today is salvation come to this house,” said 
Jesus, ‘since Zaccheus here is a son of Abraham. 
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save the 
lost.” 


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LUKE 19 


Parable of the Pounds 


As they were listening to his words he added this 
parable, because he was near to Jerusalem and they 
thought that the kingdom of God was immediately 
to appear. So he said: 

“A certain nobleman went abroad to receive 
for himself royal power and to return. And he 
summoned ten slaves of his, and gave them ten 
pounds, and said to them, 

“« Trade with these until I come.’ 

“ But his fellow citizens hated him, and sent a 
deputation after him to say, ‘We do not wish this 
man to become our king.’ And upon his return, 
after he had secured the royal power, he ordered 
the slaves to whom he had given the money to be 


called in, so that he might know what they had | 


gained by trading. 

“And the first came before him, saying, ‘ Master, 
your pound has made ten pounds.’ 

“And he said to him, ‘ Well done, good slave! 
Because you have been faithful in a very little, have 
authority over ten cities.’ 

“And the second came and said, ‘Master, your 
pound has made five pounds.’ 

“Then he said to him also, ‘ You shall be over 
five cities.’ 

“And the next came and said: ‘ Here, Master, is 
your pound, which I was keeping safe in a napkin. 
For I was afraid of you, because you are a hard 
man. You take up what you did not lay down, and 
you reap what you did not sow.’ 

“He said to him: 

““By your own words I will judge you, you 
wicked. slave. You knew, did you, that I was a hard 
man taking up what I did not lay down, and reap- 
ing what I did not sow? Then why did you not 
put my money in the bank, so that at my coming 
I might have gotten it back with interest?’ 

“Then to those who stood by, he said, ‘ Take 
the pound from him and give it to him who has ten 
pounds,’ 


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LUKE 19 


““* Master,’ they said to him, ‘he already has ten 
pounds.’ » 

““T tell you that to every one who has it shall 
be given; and from him who has not shall be taken 
away even what he has. Howbeit these enemies of 
mine who were not willing for me to become their 
King, bring them here, and slay them in my pres- 
ence.’ ”’ 


They Borrow an Ass’s Colt 


When he had so spoken he went on before, going 
up to Jerusalem. When he was come near Beth- 
phage and Bethany at the mount called The Olive 
Orchard, he sent on two of his disciples, saying: 

“Go into the village in front, and on entering it 
you will find an ass’s colt tied, on which no one has 


1 ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here., And if 


any one asks you, ‘ Why are you untying the colt?’ 
simply say, ‘The master needs it.’ ” 

Then those who were sent went out and found it 
as he had told them. For as they were untying the 
colt, the owners said to them, ‘‘ Why are you unty- 
ing the colt?” And they answered, “The Master 
needs it.” 


The Triumphal Entry 


So they led it to Jesus, and, after throwing their 
outer garments on the colt, they placed Jesus on it. 
So he rode on, while they kept throwing their gar- 
ments in the way. And when now he was com- 
ing near Jerusalem, and descending the Mount of 
Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began 
to rejoice, and to praise God with a loud voice for 
all the mighty works that they had seen. They 
cried, 

“ Blessed is the King who comes in the name of 

the Lord! 

Peace in Heaven, and glory in the Highest!” * 

And some of the Pharisees said to him out of the 
crowd, “ Teacher, reprove your disciples! ” 


1 Ps)'118°: 25, 26: 
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LUKE 20 


40 “I tell you,” he answered, ‘that if these should 
hold their peace, the very stones would cry out.” 


Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem 


41 And when he came into view of the city, as he 
42 approached it he broke into loud weeping, exclaim- 
ing: 
“Oh that at this time you knew, yes, even you, 
on what your peace depends! But now it is hidden 
43 from your eyes. The time will come for you when 
your enemies will throw ramparts around you, and 
encompass you, and shut you in on every side, 
44 and raze you to the ground, you and your children 
within you. And they will not leave in you one 
stone upon another. Because you knew not the time 
of your visitation.” 


Jesus Drives the Traders from the Temple 
45 Then Jesus went into the Temple and began to 
46 drive out the dealers, saying, 
“It is written, 


“The house of God shall be called a house of 


prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers.” * 
47 Day after day he continued to teach in the | 
Temple. The high priests and the Scribes tried to 
have him put to death, and so did the rulers of the 
48 people. But they could not find how to do it, for 
the people all hung upon hin, listening to him. 


Asa j56(21 Tey Ter. (Wood 


do 8 
TUESDAY: A DAY OF CONTROVERSY 


The Leaders Put a Question 


1 On one of the days while he was teaching the 
people in the Temple and preaching the gospel, there 
came up the priests and the Scribes with the elders. 

2 They spoke to him saying: 

“Tell us by what authority you are doing these 
things? Who is it that gave you this authority?” 


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LUKE 20 


“1 also will ask you a question,” he replied. 
“Was John’s baptism from heaven or from man? ” 

So they reasoned among themselves: “If we say, 
‘From heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘ Why did you not be- 
lieve in him?’ ‘And if we say, ‘From man,’ all the 
people will stone us, for they are persuaded that 
John was a prophet.” 

So they answered that they did not know whence 
it was. 

“ Nor will I tell you,” Jesus answered, “ by whose 
authority I do these things.” 


The Wicked Vine-dressers 


Then he began to tell the people this parable: 

“ There was a man who planted a vineyard, and 
let it. out. to vine-dressers, and, went to another 
country for a long time. At harvest-time he sent 
a slave to the vine-dressers, to ask them to give 
him a share of the crop; but the vine-dressers beat 
him and sent him away empty-handed. Then he 
sent another slave; and him also they flogged and 
handled shamefully, and sent him away..empty- 
handed. Then he sent yet a third, and him too they 
wounded and threw him out. Then the Master of 
the vineyard said: : 

“<¢ What shall I do? I will send my beloved Son; 
it may be that they will reverence him.’ 

‘“ But when the vine-dressers saw him, they rea- 
soned together, saying: ‘This is the heir. Let us 
kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.’ So 
they turned him out. of the vineyard and killed him. 

“What will the Master of the vineyard do to 
them? He will come and destroy those. vine- 
dressers, and will give the vineyard to others.” 

“God forbid! ” exclaimed they when they heard. 

He looked at them and said: 

“Then what does this Scripture mean, 

“The stone which the builders rejected, the same 
was made the head of the corner? * 

Every one who falls on that stone will be broken in 


as pers. abt hee 5 pan 
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LUKE 20 


pieces; but whoever it falls vpon will be scattered 
as dust.” 


The Scribes Send Spies 


At this the Scribes and the high priests were seek- 
ing to arrest him; only they were afraid of the 
people. For they perceived that he had referred to 
them in this parable. So they watched him, and 
sent spies who pretended to be honest men, in order 
to seize on his speech, and to deliver him up to the 
authority and jurisdiction of the governor. 


To Cesar What Is Cexsar’s; to God What Is God’s 

So they put a question to him, saying: 

“Rabbi, we know that you speak and teach what 
is right, and that you do not regard any man’s per- 
son, but teach the way of God honestly. Is it law- 
ful for us to pay tribute to Cesar or not?” 

But he perceived their knavery and answered: 

“Show me a shilling. Whose image and super- 
scription does it bear?” 

““ Cesar’s,” they replied. 

“Then give to Cesar what belongs to him,” he 
said, “to God give what is God’s.” 

So they could not lay hold of his sayings before 
the people; and marveling at his answer, they held 
their peace. 


A Question About Marriage 

Next came some of the Sadducees who deny that 
there is a resurrection, and they asked him: 

“Teacher, Moses wrote a law for us that if a 
man’s brother should die, but leave no children, his 
brother should take the wife and raise up children 
for his brother.” Now there were seven brothers: 
the first took a wife and died childless, and the 
second and the third took her, and likewise all the 
seven, but left no children when they died. Last 
of all the woman too died. In the resurrection 
whose wife shall she be? For they all seven had 
her as wife.” 


2Deut. 25 : 5, 6. 
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LUKE 20 


The Heavenly Life 


“People in this world marry and are given in 
marriage,” said Jesus, “but those who are counted 
worthy to reach that world and the resurrection 
from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in mar- 
riage. For indeed they cannot die any more; they 
are equal to the angels, and through being sons 
of the resurrection are sons of God. But that the 
dead are raised, even Moses clearly implied in the 
passage about the Bush, when he calls the “ord 

“The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God 
of Jacob.’ 

Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living; 
for to him all are alive.” 

Then some of the Scribes said, “ Teacher, that 
was nobly said,” for they no longer dared to ask 
him any question. 


A Question About Himself 


“ How is it,” he asked them, “ that they say that 
Christ is David’s son? for David himself says in 
the Book of the Psalms, 

“The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, 

Until I make thy enemies the footstool at thy feet.* 
David therefore himself calls him ‘ Lord,’ and how 
can he be his son? ” 


A Warning About the Scribes 


Then, in the hearing of all the people, he said 
to his disciples: 

“ Beware of the Scribes who like to walk about 
in long robes, and dote on salutations in the market- 
places, and on securing the front seats in the syna- 
gogues and the best places at banquets; but they 
devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make 
long prayers. These shall receive severer condem- 
nation.” 


* Exod. 3 : 2-6. 
“Ps rire: 7 f. 


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LUKE 21 


XXI 


is 


PREDICTIONS OF FUTURE RUIN 


The Widow’s Mite 

And he looked up and saw people casting their 
offerings into the treasury, and they were rich. 
And he saw a certain poor widow casting in two 
mites. And he said: 

“ Of a truth I tell you that this poor widow has 
put in more than they all; for these men have all 
contributed to the offering out of their surplus, 
but she, out of her want, contributed all she had 
to live on.” 


Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple 

And to some who were talking about the Temple, 
how it was adorned with beautiful stones and votive 
offerings, he said, 

“As for what you are looking at, the time is 
coming when not one stone will be left upon another, 
that shall not be thrown down.” 

“Teacher, when will this be?” they asked him, 
“and what shall be the sign that these things are 
about to happen? ” 


Things Which Precede the Fall of Jerusalem 


“Take heed,” he answered, “ that you are not led 
astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I 
am he,’ and ‘ The time is close at hand.’ Do not 
go and follow them. And when you shall hear of 
wars and tumults, do not be frightened; for these 
things must hapyen first, but the end does not come 
immediately.” 


1. Wars and EHarthquakes 


Then he said to them: 

“Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom 
against kingdom: and there shall be great earth- 
quakes, and, in many places, famines and pesti- 


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LUKE 21 


lences; and there shall be terrors and. great portents 
from heaven. 


2, Persecution 


“ But. before all these things happen, they will 
apprehend you and persecute you and deliver you 
to the synagogues and to prisons, and bring you 
before kings and governors for the sake of my 


> hame. It shall turn out for a testimony to you. 


3. Promise of Deliverance 


“So settle it in your hearts not to prepare a de- 
fense beforehand, for I will give you utterance and 
a wisdom which none of your adversaries will be 
able to answer or withstand. You will be betrayed 
even by parents and brothers and kinsfolk, and 
friends. Some of you they will put to death. And 
you shall be hated by all men for the sake of my 
name. And not a hair of your head shall perish, 
In your patience you shall purchase your souls. 


Jerusalem to Be Encompassed with Armies 


“But when you see Jerusalem encompassed with 
armies, then know that her desolation is at hand. 
Then let those who are in Judea flee to the moun- 
tains; and let those who are in the city go out, and 
those who are in the country enter not in. For 
these are the days of vengeance’ and of fulfilment 
of all that is written. 


Predictions of Utter Destruction 


“Woe to women with child and to those who are 
nursing infants in those days! For sore anguish 
will come upon the land, and wrath upon all this 
people. They shall fall by the edge of the sword, 
and shall be led captive among the Gentiles, and 
Jerusalem shall be trampled: under foot by the 
Gentiles, until the appointed times of the Gentiles 
be fulfilled. 


1 Hosea 9: 7. 


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30 


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35 


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LUKE 21 


The Coming in the Clouds 


aS And there will be signs in the sun and the moon 
and the stars; and on the earth distress of nations 
in perplexity at the roar of the sea and the billows; 
men lifeless through fear, and foreboding of that 
which is about to come upon the habitable earth. 
For the powers of the heavens shall be shaken, 
and then shall they see the Son of man coming in a 
cloud, with power and great glory. But when these 
things begin to come to pass, look up, lft your 
heads! for your redemption is drawing near.” 


Parable of the Fig Tree 


And he told them a parable: 

“Look at the fig tree and all the trees! When 
they put out their leaves you can see for yourselves 
that summer is coming. So whenever you see all 
these things coming to pass, you will know that the 
kingdom of God is near. In solemn truth I tell you 
that this generation shall not pass away until all 
this happens. Heaven and earth will pass away, 
but my words shall never pass away. 


Jesus Warns His Disciples 


“ But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts 
be surcharged with self-indulgence and drunkenness 
and worldly cares, and that day catches you suddenly 
like a trap. For it will come upon all the dwellers 
on the face of all the earth. So be on your guard 
at all times, praying that you may be worthy to 
escape all these things that shall come to pass, and 
to take your stand in the presence of the Son of 
man.” 

And each day he was habitually in the Temple 
teaching, and at night he used toe go out and lodge 
on the mount called The Olive Orchards. And all 
the people used to come to him early in the morn- 
ing in the Temple, to listen to him. 


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LUKE 22 


XXIT 
1'HE LORD’S SUPPER AND THE BETRAYAL 


Judas, the Traitor 


Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is 
called the Passover, was drawing near. The high 
priests and the Scribes continually sought means to 
put him to death. But they were afraid of the 
people. Satan, however, entered into Judas (the 
man called Iscariot), who was one of the Twelve. 
And he went out and conferred with the chief. 
priests and commanders how he might deliver Jesus 
up to them. They were delighted, and agreed to 
give him money. He consented to this, and looked 
for an opportunity to betray him, when the people 
were not present. 


Preparing the Upper Room 


Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which 
the paschal lamb must be sacrificed. So Jesus sent 
Peter and John saying, 

“Go and prepare for us the Passover, that we 
may eat it.” 

“Where shall we get it ready?” they asked. 

He answered: 

‘No sooner will you have entered the city than 
you will meet a man carrying a water-jug. Follow 
him into the house where he is going. And to the 
good man of the house say, ‘ The Teacher asks you, 
‘‘ Where is the room in which I can eat the Pass- 
over with my disciples? ’’’ 

“Then he will show you a large upper room 
furnished. There make your preparations.” 

So they went and found everything as he had told 
them, and they prepared the Passover. 


The Last Supper 


And when the hour was come he sat down, and 
the twelve apostles with him, and he said to them: 


225 


16 


by 


18 


19 


20 


21 
22 


23 


24 
25 


26 


27 


LUKE 22 


“With desire have I longed to eat this Passover 
with you before I suffer. For I tell you that I cer- 
tainly will not eat again until it be fulfilled in the 
kingdom of God.” 

Then when he had received a cup and given 
thanks, he said: 

“Take this, and divide it among yourselves; for 
I tell you that I will drink no more of the fruit 
of the vine until the kingdom of God is come.” 

And he took a loaf, and after giving thanks, he 
broke it and gave it to them, saying: 

“This is my body, which is given for you; this 
do in remembrance of me.” 

He gave them the cup in like manner, after sup- 
per, saying: 

“ This cup is the new covenant in my blood, poured 
out for your sake. But behold, the hand of my 
betrayer is on the table with me! The Son of man 
indeed goes on his way, as it has been determined; 
but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed.” 

And they began to question among themselves 
which of them it could be who was going to do 
such a thing. 


The Greatest Shall Be the Slave of All 


And there arose also a dispute among them as to 
which of them could be considered the greatest, and 
he said to them: 

“The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, 
and those who have authority over them are called 
Benefactors. But you shall not be so. But he who 
is greater among you let him become like the 
younger; and he who is leader like him who serves. 
For which is greater, he who sits at table, or he who 
serves? Is it not he who sits at table?) But I am 
among you as the serving man. 


Reward of Service 


“You, however, are those who have stood by me 
in my trials. And I promise you a kingdom, even 
as my Father has promised me a kingdom; so that 
you shall eat and drink in my kingdom, and you 


226 


— 


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35 


36 


oo 


4() 


41 


LUKE 22 


shall sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of 
Israel. 


Jesus Prays for Peter 

“ Simon, Simon,” said the Lord, “behold, Satan 
has asked to have you all that he might sift. you 
like wheat. But I made supplication for you that 
your own faith may not fail. And you, when you 
have turned again, must strengthen your brothers.” 

“ Lord,” Simon said to him, “I am ready to go 
with you, both to prison and to death.” 

“T tell you, Peter,” he answered, ‘“‘ the cock will 
not crow this day until you will three times deny 
that you know me.” 


A Veiled Warning 


Moreover, he said to them, ‘‘ When I sent you out 
without purse or wallet or sandals, did you lack 
anything? ” 

They answered him, “ We lacked nothing.” 

Then he said to them: ‘‘ But now let him who has 
a purse take it, and he who has a wallet, let him do 
the same. And he who has no sword, let him sell his 
cloak and buy one. For I say to you that this word 
of Scripture must find its fulfilment in me: 

“ And he was numbered among the transgressors," 
For that which concerns me has its accomplish- 
ment.” 

“ Master,” they said, “here are two swords 

“That is enough,” he answered. 


1» 


In the Garden of Gethsemane 

Then he went out, and began to go to the Mount 
of Olives, as was his wont; and his disciples fol- 
lowed him. But when he arrived at the place he 
said to them, 

“Pray that you enter not into temptation.” 

But he himself withdrew from them about a 
stone’s throw, and kneeling down he prayed re- 
peatedly, saying: 


‘Isa. 53,2 12, 


42 


43 
44 


45 
46 


AT 


48 


49 


50 
51 


52 


53 


54 


LUKE 22 


“Father, if thou art willing, take away this cup 
from me; but thy will, not mine, be done! ” 

(And «there appeared to him an angel from 
heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony 
he kept praying more earnestly; and his sweat be- 
came as it were great drops of blood falling down 
upon the ground.) ’ 

When he arose from his prayers, anid: ‘came to his 
disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and 
said to them: 

“Why are you asleep? Get up, and pray that you 
enter not into temptation.” 


Judas the Betrayer, Comes with Soldiers 


While he was still speaking there came a crowd, 
and he who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, 
was leading them. He came near Jesus in order to 
kiss him, but Jesus said to him, 

“Judas, are you betraying the Son of man with 
a kiss?” 

Those who were around him, when they saw what 
was about to happen, said to him, 

“ Lord, shall we strike with our swords? ” 

Then one of them did strike a blow at the high 
priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. 

“ Permit me to do this at least,’”’ said Jesus, as he 
touched his ear and healed him. 


Your Hour and the Power of Darkness 


Then Jesus said to the corps of priests and cap- 
tains of the Temple and elders who had come out to 
arrest him: 

“Have ye come for me with swords and clubs 
to arrest me like a robber? When daily I was with 
you in the temple you did not stretch out your hands 
to take me; but this is your hour and the power of 
darkness,” 


Peter Denies Jesus 


So they seized him and led him away, and took 
him to the house of the high priest; while Peter 


? Many ancient authorities omit verses 48, 44. 


228 


55 


56 


57 
58 


59 


60 


61 


62 


63 


64 


65 


66 


LUKE 22 


was following him a long way off. And when they 
had lighted a fire in the center of the court, and 
had sat down together, Peter was taking his seat 
among them. But a certain maid servant saw him 
taking his seat near the fire and, with a sharp 
glance at him, she said, “This fellow was with 
him, too! ” 

But he denied it, saying, ‘‘ Woman, I know noth- 
ing about him.” 

A little later a man saw him, and said, “ You 
too are one of them.” 

But Peter declared, ‘‘ Man, I am not.” 

But an hour afterward another man kept insist- 
ing, saying: 

“ Really, this fellow was with him. Why, he is a 
Galilean.” 

“Man,” said Peter, “I do not know what you 
mean.” 

And immediately, while he was still speaking, the 
cock crew. 


Jesus Looks on Peter 


Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and 
Peter recollected the word of the Lord, how he had 
said to him, 

“This very day, before the cock crows, you will 
deny me three times.” 

And Peter went outside and wept with bitter 
crying. 


Jesus Is Mocked 

Meanwhile the men who were holding Jesus in 
custody kept mocking and striking him. They would 
blindfold him and would ask him: 

“Prophesy! Tell who struck you! ” 

And they said many other insulting things against 
him. 


Jesus Before the Sanhedrin 


When it became day the elders of the people met 
with the high priests and the Scribes and had him 
brought before the Sanhedrin, saying: 


229 


LUKE 23 


67 “ Are you the Christ? Tell us! ” 
“If I tell you,” he answered, “you will net be- 
68 lieve; and if I ask you, you will not answer. 
69 But from henceforth the Son of man will be seated 
at the right hand of the power of God.” 
70. Then they all. said, ““Are you, then, the Son of 
God? ” 
“ Certainly,” he answered, “I am.” 
_ 71 “What need have we of further evidence? for 
we ourselves have heard it from his own lips.” 


XXII 


JESUS’ TRIAL AND CRUCIFIXION 


Jesus Before Pilate 


1 Then the whole company rose up and brought him 

2 to Pilate, and began to accuse him: 

“We found this fellow perverting our nation, and 
forbidding to give tribute to Cesar, and claiming 
that he is the Messiah and King.” 

® Then Pilate asked him, “ Are you the King of the 
Jews?” 

And he answered him, saying, “ Certainly Iam.” 

4. And Pilate. said to the chief priests and the 
crowd, “I find no harm in this man.” 

5 But they repeatedly insisted, “He is stirring up 
the people throughout all Judea with his teachings 
which he started from Galilee.” 

6 When Pilate heard the word “ Galilee ” he asked 

7 if the man were a Galilean, and when he learned 
that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction he sent him 
to Herod, who himself happened to be in Jerusalem 
during those days. 


Jesus Sent to Herod 


8 Now when Herod saw Jesus he was exceedingly 
glad. He had long been wanting to see‘him, because 
he had heard so much about him, and he was hoping 

9 to see some miracle performed by him. © So he 
began asking him many questions, but Jesus made 


230 


10 


11 


12 


13 
14 


20 
21 


22 


23 


OA 
| 25 


LUKE 23 


no answers. Meanwhile the high priests and Scribes 
were standing around, and continually making ac- 
cusations against him. Then Herod and his soldiers 
set him at naught, and mocked him, and throwing 
about him a gorgeous robe, sent him back to Pilate. 
Herod and Pilate became friends again from that 
very day; for before they had been at enmity be- 
tween themselves. 


Pilate Acquits Jesus 


So Pilate called together the chief priests and the 
rulers and the people, and said to them: 

“You brought before me this man as one who 
incited the people to rebellion. I have examined him 
in your presence, and I find no fault in this man, 
regarding the charges that you bring against him. 
Neither does Herod; for he sent him back to us. 
You see that he has done nothing worthy of death. 
I will therefore, after flogging him, release him.” * 

Then the whole crowd shouted out, “ Away with 
this man, and release to us Barabbas.” (This was 
a man who had been thrown in prison on account 
of a riot which had occurred in the city, and for 
murder.) 


Jesus Is Sentenced 


Then Pilate spoke to them again, because he 
wished to release Jesus; but they continued to shout 
out and to say, “ Crucify! Crucify him!” 

For the third time he appealed to them: “ But 
what crime has he committed? I have found in 
him nothing that deserves death. I will therefore 
flog him, and let him go.” 


Pilate Throws His Conscience to the Mob 

But they kept shouting the more insistently, de- 
manding that he should be crucified, and their 
shouts won the day. So Pilate gave sentence that 
what they wished should be done. He released the 
man who had been put in prison for riot and murder, 


1 Many ancient authorities insert verse 17, ‘‘ Now he had to 
release to them at the feast one prisoner.” 


231 


26 


27 
28 


29 


30 
31 


32 
33 


34 


35 


36 
37 


38 


LUKE 23 


the man whom they had asked for; but Jesus he 
handed over to their will. 


On the Way to the Cross 


And when they led him away they took hold of 
Simon, a Cyrenean, who was coming in from the 
country, and laid the cross on him to carry it pehind 
Jesus. He was also followed by a great crowd of 
people, and of women too, who were beating their 
breasts and lamenting him. But Jesus turned and 
said: 

“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; 
but weep for yourselves and for your children. For 
behold, the days are coming when they shall say, 
‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never 
bore children, and the breasts that have never 
suckled.’ Then will they begin to say to the moun- 
tains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ 
For if this is what they do in the green tree, what 
will they do in the dry?” 


Jesus Is Crucified 


And there were led out with him to be executed, 
two criminals also. When they came to the place 
called “ The Skull,” there they crucified him and the 
criminals also, one upon his right hand, and one 
upon the left. Jesus kept saying, 

“ Father, forgive them, for they do not know what 
they are doing.” 

And they divided his garments among them, cast- 
ing lots for them,? and the people stood looking on. 
Even the rulers repeatedly taunted him, saying, 

“He saved others, let him save himself, if this 
fellow is indeed the Christ of God, His Chosen 
One! ” 

Even the soldiers made sport of him by coming up 
to him and offering him sour wine, saying, 

“If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.” 

For there was an inscription over his head, 


THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 
PSone. 
232 


LUKE 238 


The Penitent Thief 
99 And one of the criminals who had been hung 
there kept reviling him, saying: 
“ Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.” 
40 But the other, answering, reproved him, saying: 
‘‘Have you no fear of God even? When you are 
41 suffering the same punishment as he? We indeed 
justly, for we are receiving due retribution for what 
we have done. But he has done no wrong.” 
42 Then he added, 
“Jesus, remember me when you come in your 
kingdom.” 
43 “Tn solemn truth I tell you,” said Jesus, “ that 
this day you shall be with me in Paradise.” 


He Yields up His Spirit 
44. It was now about the sixth hour, and a darkness 
eame over the whole land until the ninth hour. 
45 And the sun was darkened, and the curtain of the 
46 sanctuary was torn in two in the Temple. Then 
with a loud cry, Jesus said, 
“ Father, into thy hands I entrust my spirit 
And after uttering these words, he yielded up his 
spirit. 


p93 


The Effect on the Bystanders 


47 When the army captain saw what had happened, 

he glorified God, saying, 
“This man was really innocent! ” 

48 And all the crowds who had assembled to see this 
spectacle, after witnessing what had been done, 

49 were returning, beating upon their breasts. But 
all his acquaintances and the women who had been 
his followers were standing at a distance, look- 
ing on. 


The Tomb of Joseph of Arimathea 
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member 
51 of the Council, a good man and a righteous, he 
who came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and 
Ps, 31: 5. 
233 


52 


53 
54 
5d 


56 


1 


2 


9 
Vv 


4 


5 


6 


i 


LUKE 24 


who was on the watch for the kingdom of God. 
He had not concurred in the designs and deed of 
the Council. This man went to Pilate, and begged 
for the body of Jesus. Then taking it down, he 
wrapped it in linen, and placed it in a tomb hewn 
in the rock, where no man had ever been laid. 

And it was the day of Preparation and the Sab- 
bath was near at hand. Then the women who had 
accompanied him out of Galilee followed after, and 
noted the tomb, and how his body was placed... Then 
they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. 


XXIV 


THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION OF 
JESUS 


The Witness of the Empty Tomb 


On the Sabbath Day they rested in obedience to 
the commandment, but in the deep dawn of the first 
day of the week they took the spices whieh they had 
prepared, and came to the tomb. And they found 
the stone rolled away from the tomb, and on enter- 
ing they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 


A Vision of Angels 


While they were still perplexed over this, it hap- 
pened that two men stood near them in dazzling 
raiment. They were terrified, and bowed down their 
faces to the ground, but the men said to them: 

“Why are you seeking him who lives, among the 
dead? He is not here; he is risen. Do you remem- 
ber how he told you when he was still in Galilee 
that the Son of man had to be betrayed into the 


hands of sinful men, and to be crucified, and to rise - 


the third day? ” 
The Women Run to Tell His Disciples 


8,9 Then they recollected his. words, and turning away 


10 


from the tomb they told all this to the Eleven, and 


to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, | 


234 


‘Bk 


13 


14 
15 


16 


1 


18 


a4 


20 
21 


B22 
23 
24 


LUKE 24 


and Mary, the mother of James, and the rest of 
the women who were telling all this to the apostles. 
But the whole story seemed to them but an idle 
tale; and they disbelieved the women.* Peter, how- 
ever, got up and ran to the tomb, but when he 
stooped and looked in he saw the linen wrappings 
by themselves, and he departed to his home, won- 
dering at that which was come to pass. 


The Two on the Way to Emmaus 


On that same day two of his disciples were walk- 
ing to Emmaus, a village about seven miles from 
Jerusalem. They were talking together about all 
these events, and as they talked and discussed mat- 
ters, Jesus himself drew near and began walking 
beside them. But their eyes continued to be held 
that they should not recognize him even for an in- 
stant. And he said to them, 

““What words are these that you are exchanging 
one with another, as you walk along?” 

They stood still, looking sad. And one of them, 
named Cleopas, answered him, 

“Do you sojourn alone in Jerusalem, that you do 
not know what things have been happening there in 
these days? ” 

“ What kind of things? ” he answered. 

And they said: 

“The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who 
was a prophet mighty in deed and word before 
God and all the people; and how our high priests 
and rulers delivered him to be condemned to death 
and crucified him. But we were hoping that it was 
he who should redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all 
this it is now the third day since these things 
happened. Moreover, some women of our company 
amazed us. They went to his tomb at daybreak, 
and found that his body was not there; then they 
came and told us that besides they had seen a vision 
of angels, who said that he was alive. Thereupon 
some of our own party went to the tomb, and found 


1 Many ancient authorities omit verse 12. 


235 


LUKE 24 


it even so as the women had said, but him they did 
not see. 


Beginning with Moses and the Prophets 


25 ‘“O foolish men,” said Jesus, “and slow of heart 

26 to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Be- 
hooved it not the Christ to suffer thus, and then 
to enter into his glory?” 

27 And beginning with Moses and the Prophets, he 
interpreted to them all the passages concerning him- 
self. 


Known in the Breaking of Bread 


28 When they drew near to the village to which they 

29 were going, he appeared to be going farther. But 
they urged him to stay with them, saying, 

“Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and 
the day is now far spent.” 

30 So he went in to stay with them. But as he sat 
down with them, and took bread, and had blessed 

ol and broken it, and was handing it to them, their 
eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he 
vanished out of their sight. . 

32. ‘“ Were not our hearts burning within us,” they 
said to each other, “while we were talking with 
him on the way, and he was opening to us the 
Scriptures? ” 


The Two Return to Jerusalem 


80 So they rose and returned to Jerusalem that very 
hour, and found the Eleven and the others all met 

34 together, saying, 

“The Lord is really risen, and has appeared to 

Simon! ” 

380 Then they began to tell what happened on the 
road, and how he was known to them when he 
broke the bread. | 


Jesus Appears 


386 While they were yet speaking he stood among 
them and said, 
** Peace be to you! ” 


236 





LUKE 24 


37 They were startled and terrified and thought that 
388 they were seeing a ghost. And he said to them: 

“Why are you disturbed? And why do ques- 

39 tionings rise in your hearts? Look at my hands 

and my feet. It is I! Feel me and see; for a 

ghost has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 


Jesus Eats Before Them 


40 Then he showed them his hands and his feet. 
41 But while they still did not believe it for joy, and 
were filled with wonder, he asked them, 
“ Have you anything here to eat?” 
42,43 So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he 
44 took it and ate in their presence. Then he said 
to them, 
“ These are my words which I spoke to you while 
I was still with you, how all things must be fulfilled 
which are written in the Law of Moses, and the 
Prophets, and the Psalms concerning me.” 


He Explains the Scriptures 


45 Then he opened their minds to understand the 
46 Scriptures, and he said: 
“Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer 
47 and rise again from the dead, the third day; and 
that repentance unto remission of sins should be 
preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning 
48 from Jerusalem. You must bear testimony to this. 
49 And I will send forth the promise of my Father 
upon you. But tarry in Jerusalem until you are 
clothed with power from on high.” 


Jesus Ascends 


50 And he led them out until they were over against 
Bethany; and he lifted up his hands and blessed 

51 them. And it happened that while he was blessing 
them, that he parted from them and was carried 

52 up into the heaven. And they worshiped him and 

53 returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were con- 
tinually in the temple, blessing God. 


237 


























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JOHN’S GOSPEL 


Probable Date: 
Author: 
Characteristics: 
Key Words: 


Symbol: 
For Whom Intended: 


Between A. D. 80 and A. D. 95. 
Written most probably from 
Ephesus. 


The apostle John. 


The Gospel of the Incarnation 
of the Son of God. 


Life, Love, Truth, Freedom, Be- 
lieve, Witness, the World. 


The Eagle. 


The Gospel is addressed to 
Christians. Its aim is stated 
in John 20: 31; to confirm 
believers in their faith in 
Christ the Son of God, in 
order that through their faith 
they might have life. 

Not intended to supersede 
the already familiar narra- 
tives of Matthew, Mark, and 
Luke, but to supplement and 
interpret them. 


JOHN’S GOSPEL 


I 


JOHN THE BAPTIST, AND THE FIRST 
DISCIPLES OF JESUS 


The Eternal Logos 


1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was 

2 face to face with God, and the Word was God. He 

3 was face to face with God in the beginning. All 
things came into being through him, and apart from 

4 him nothing that exists came into being. In him 

5 was life, and the life was the light of men. And the 
light is shining in the darkness, and the darkness 
has not overwhelmed it. 


The Coming of John the Baptist 


6 A man came into being, sent from God, whose 
7 name was John. He came as a witness, that he 
might bear testimony concerning the Light—so that 
8 all men might believe through him. He was not 
the Light; it was to bear testimony concerning 
9 the Light that he came into being. The true Light, 
which enlightens every man, was then coming into 
10 the world. He was in the world, and through him 
the world came into being, yet the world knew him 
11 not. He came to his own creation, and his own 
42 folk welcomed him not. But to all who receive 
him, to them he has given the right to become chil- 
dren of God, even to those who trust in his name; 
18 who were born; not of blood, nor of the will of 
the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 
14 And the Word became flesh and tented with us. 
_ And we gazed on his glory—glory as of the Father’s 
only Son—full of grace and truth. 
1The ancient Syriac version has the following, He who 


was born not of double blood, nor of the will of the flesh, 
etc., etc. 


241 


15 


16 
17 


15 


19 


22 


23 


24 
25 


26 
27 


28 


JOHN 1 


John the Baptist Bears Testimony 


John bore witness coneerning him, and cried 
aloud, “saying, 

“This is he of whom I said, ‘He who is coming’ 
after me has been put before me, for he was be- 
fore me.’” 

For out of his fulness we have all received, yes, 
grace upon, grace. , For the. Law was given by 
Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus 
Christ. No man has ever seen God; God, only; be- 
gotten, who is in the bosom of the Father—he has 
interpreted him, 


The Office of John the Baptist 


Now. this is the testimony of John, when the | 


Jews sent some priests and. Levites to him from 
Jerusalem to ask him, “ Who are: you?” He; ac- 
knowledged—he did not deny it—but acknowledged, 

“Yt am not the Christ.” 

“What then?” they questioned; Are you 
Elijah?” 

He said, “I am not.” 

“ Are you.the Prophet? ” 

“No,” he replied... 

Then said they to him: “ Who are you?. That 
we may give some answer to those who sent us. 
What account do you give of. yourself?” ) 

He said, “I am a voice of one who cries aloud 
in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ 
as said the prophet Isaiah.’’? 

Now it was some of the Pharisees who had been 
sent to him; so they questioned him, Saying, 

“ Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the 
Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet? ” 

“I indeed am baptizing in water,” John said in 
reply, “but in your midst stands One whom you do 
not recognize, One who is to come after me, whose 
sandal-strap I am not worthy to untie.” 

This happened in Bethany, beyond Jordan, where 
John was baptizing. 


S804 Ome. 
24? 


29 


JOHN 1 


“Behold, God’s Lamb! ” 
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, 


“and said: 


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ol 


32 
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34 


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oO” 
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40 
41 


“ Behold, that is God’s Lamb, who takes and bears 
away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I 
said, ‘After me comes One who has been put be- 
fore me, for he was before me.’ I myself did not 
recognize him; I only came baptizing in water, in 
order that he might be openly shown to Israel.” 


The Descending Spirit 


John also bore this testimony, saying: 

‘“‘T saw the Spirit like a dove descend from heaven 
and rest upon him. And I did not recognize him, 
but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 
‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending 
and resting upon him, is he who baptizes in the Holy 
Spirit.’ This I have seen, and I am become a wit- 
ness to the fact that he is the Son of God.” 


The First Two Disciples of Jesus 


Next day again, John was standing with two of 
his disciples. After gazing intently on Jesus as he 
walked about, he said, 

“ Look! that is the Lamb of God!” 

The two disciples heard his exclamation, and they 
followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned and saw them 
following him, and said, 

“ What do you want?” 

They replied, 

“ Rabbi” (which may be translated ‘ Teacher’), 
“where are you staying? ” 

He said to them, 

“Come, and you shall see.” 

So they went and saw where he was staying, and 
spent that day with him. It was then about four 
o’clock in the afternoon. 

One of the two men who heard what John said 
and followed Jesus, was Andrew, the brother of 
Simon Peter. In the morning he found his brother 
Simon, and said to him, 


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JOHN 2 


“We have found the Messiah” (a word which 
means Christ, the Anointed One). 

He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked intently 
at him*and said: 

“You are Simon, son of John; you shall be ealled 
Cephas” (or ‘ Peter,’ which means ‘ Rock’). 


The Winning of Philip and Nathanael 

Next day Jesus decided tosgo into Galilee; and 
he found Philip and said to him, “ Follow me.” 
Now Philip belonged to Bethsaida, the same town 
as Andrew and Peter. Then Philip found Na- 
thanael and told him, ‘“‘ We have found him about 
whom Moses wrote in the Law, as did the prophets— 
Jesus of Nazareth, Joseph’s son.” 


And Nathanael said to him, “ Can anything good | 


come out of Nazareth?” 

Philip said to him, ‘“ Come and see.” 

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, and 
said, 

“Behold a true Israelite in whom there is no 
deceit.” 

“How do you know me?” asked Nathanael. 


“Before Philip called you,” replied Jesus, ‘“ when 


you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 

“ Rabbi,” answered Nathanael, “you are the Son 
of God; you are King of Israel.” 

Jesus said in reply: “Do you believe because I 
said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree?’ You 
shall see greater things than that! Believe me,” he 
added, “you all shall see heaven opened wide, and 
the angels of God ascending and descending upon 
the Son of man.” . 


II 


THE FIRST MIRACLE AND EARLY 
TEACHINGS 


The First Miracle 


Now two days after this there was a wedding 
in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was 


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JOHN 2 


2 there; Jesus also was invited to the wedding, and 

3 his disciples.. And when the wine ran short, Jesus’ 
mother said to him, 

“They have no wine.” 

4 “Woman,” said Jesus, “what have you to do 
with me? My time is not yet come.” 

5 His mother said to the attendants, “ Whatever he 
may tell you to do, do it.” 

6 Now there were six stone water-jars standing 
there, according to the Jewish rites of purification, 

7 each holding about twenty gallons. Jesus said, 

“Fill up the jars with water.” 
8 So they filled them brimful. Then he said, 
“Draw some out now, and carry it to the master 
of the feast.” : 

9 So they carried it. And when the master of the 
feast had tasted of the water which had been made 
wine, not knowing where it came from, though the 
attendants who had drawn it knew, he called the 
bridegroom and said to him: 

10 ‘Everybody serves first the good wine, and when 
people have drunk freely, the poor wine; but you 
have kept the good wine until now.” 

11. This beginning of signs Jesus performed in Cana 
of Galilee, and showed forth his glory; and his 

12 disciples believed on him there. Afterward he went 
down to Capernaum, he and his mother and his 
brothers and his disciples, and remained there a few 
days. 


Jesus Cleanses the Temple 


13 Now the Passover of the Jews was near, so Jesus 

14 went up to Jerusalem. There he found in the 

temple those who were selling cattle and sheep and 

15 doves, and the money-changers sitting there. So he 

plaited a scourge of rushes, and drove all out of the 

~ temple—both the sheep and oxen. He began to pour 

out the coins of the money-changers, and to overturn 

16 their tables, and said to those who were selling 
doves: . 

“Take these things away! Make not my Father’s 
house a house of trade! ” 


OAS 


JOHN 3 


17 His disciples recalled that it is written, 
The zeal of thine house will devour mes 


The Jews Seek a Sign 

18 Then the Jews asked Jesus, “ What sign are you 
going to show us, seeing that you do these things? ” 
19 “Destroy this temple,” answered Jesus, “and in 
three days I will raise it up.” 

20 The Jews retorted, “This Temple took forty-six 
years to build, and will you ‘raise it in three 
days’?” 

21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body; 
and when the disciples recalled what he had said, 
22 after he had been raised from the dead, they be- 
lieved the Scripture and the word which Jesus had 
said. 


Gaining New Followers 


258 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the feast of 
the Passover, many believed in his name, when they 
24 beheld the signs which he did; but for his part 
Jesus was not trusting himself to them, because 
25 he knew all men, and did not need any one’s testi- 
mony concerning man, for he himself knew’ what 
was in man. 


1'Ps. 69°: 9. 


III 


NICODEMUS CALLS UPON JESUS AT NIGHT 


A Night Caller 


Now there was one of the Pharisees named Nico- 
demus, a ruler among the Jews. This man came 
to Jesus by night, and said to him: 

“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher sent 
from God; for no man can do these signs which 
you are continually doing, unless God is with him.” 
3 “In very truth I tell you,” answered J esus, ‘that 
unless a man is born from above, he cannot see the 
kingdom of God.” 


/ 


ao 
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WD ied 


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JOHN 3 


“How can a man be born when he is old?” 
Nicodemus replied; ‘‘Can he enter a second time 
into his mother’s womb, and be born? ” 


The New Birth 


“TI tell you solemnly,’ Jesus answered, “ that un- 
less a man is born of water and the Spirit, he 
cannot enter the kingdom of God. What is born of 
the flesh is flesh; and what is born of the Spirit is 
spirit. Marvel not at my telling you, ‘ You must 
all be born again from above.’ The wind blows 
where it wills, and you hear its voice, but you do 
not know where it comes from or where it is going. 
So it is with every one who has been born of the 
Spirit.” 

“ How can this be? ” said Nicodemus in reply. 


As Moses Lifted the Serpent 


“ Are you the Teacher of Israel, and yet you do 
not understand these things?” said Jesus. “ Most 
solemnly I tell you we are speaking of what we 
know, and it is about that of which we were eye- 
witnesses that we give testimony. Yet all of you 
reject our testimony. If I have told you earthly 
things and yet none of you believe me, how will 
you believe if I tell you concerning heavenly things? 
There is no one gone up to heaven, except the One 
who came down from heaven—the Son of man him- 
self. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the 
wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, 
in order that every one who believes in him may 
have eternal life. 


The Gospel in Miniature 


“For God so loved the world that he gave his only 
begotten Son, that whoever trusts in him should 
not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not 
send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 
but that the world through him might be saved. 
He who trusts in him is not condemned, but he who 
does not trust has already been condemned, because 
he has not put his trust in the name of the only 


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JOHN 3 


begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, 
that Light is come into the world, and men loved 
darkness rather than light, because their deeds 
were evil. For every one who practises wrong hates 
light, and does not come to the light, lest his actions 
be exposed; but he who does what is true, comes to 
the light, in order that his actions may be shown 
to have been wrought in God.” 


John Baptist Answers Queries 


After this Jesus and his disciples went into the 
countryside of Judea, and there he was staying 
with them and baptizing. John also was baptizing 
in Atnon, near Salim, because there were many 
streams there, and people kept coming to receive 
baptism. (For John had not yet been thrown into 
prison.) Then some of John’s disciples got into a 
controversy with a Jew in regard to purification; 
so they came to John and said to him: 

“Rabbi, see!) The man who was with you on the 
other side of Jordan, and to whom you yourself 
have borne testimony, is now baptizing, and every- 
body is coming to him.” 


A Noble Spirit 


In reply John said: 

“ A man cannot obtain anything unless it has been 
granted to him from heaven. You yourselves are 
my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but 
have been sent before him.’ He who has the bride 
is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, 
who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because 
of the bridegroom’s voice. So then this joy of mine 
has now complete fulfilment. He must increase, but 
I must decrease. 


Who Has the Son Has All 

“He that comes from above is above all; but one 
who is of the earth, of the earth he is, and of the 
earth he speaks. He who comes from heaven is 
above all. He bears testimony to what he has heard 
and seen, yet no one receives his testimony. Who- 


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JOHN 4 


ever does receive it has set his seal that God is 
34 true. For he whom God sent utters the words 
of God; for God does not give the Spirit sparingly. 
35 The Father loves the Son and has committed every- 
36 thing into his hands. Whoever believes in the Son 
has eternal life, but he who disobeys the Son shall 
not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him.” 


IV 


BY JACOB’S WELL 


Jesus at Jacob’s Well 


1 Accordingly when the Lord knew that the Phar- 
isees had heard it said, “‘ Jesus is making and bap- 
2 tizing more disciples than John,” (though Jesus 
himself was not accustomed to baptize, but his dis- 
3 ciples), he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 

4,5 Now he had to pass through Samaria; so he came 
to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the piece of 

6 ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s 
Spring was there. So Jesus, tired out with his 

7 journey, was sitting thus by the spring. It was 
about noon, and a woman of Samaria came to draw 

8 water. Jesus said to her, “ Give me a drink” (for 
his disciples were gone away into the city to buy 
food.) 

9 ‘How is it,” answered the Samaritan woman, 
“that you who are a Jew ask a drink from me, 
a woman, and a Samaritan?” (For Jews have no 
dealings with Samaritans.) 

10 “If you had known the free gift of God,” Jesus 
answered, “‘and who it is that says to you, ‘ Give 
me a drink,’ you would have asked of him, and he 
would have given you living water.” 

11 “Sir,” said the woman, “you have nothing to 
draw with, and the well is deep; whence have you 

12 that living water? Surely you are not greater than 
our Father Jacob, who gave us the well, and used 
to drink from it himself, and his sons, and his 
cattle, too? ” 


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JOHN 4 


Who Drinks Shall Never Thirst 


“All who drink of this water,” Jesus answered, 
“will thirst again; but whoever once drinks of the 
water that I will give him, shall never thirst any 
more, but the water that I will give him shall be- 
come a living spring of water within him, welling 
up into eternal life.” 

“Sir!” exclaimed the woman, “ give me this 
water, so that I may not be thirsty, nor come all 
this way to draw water.” 


“Go, Call Your Husband ” 


Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and 
then come here.” 

“I have no husband,” answered the woman. 

“You are right in saying ‘I have no husband,’ ” 
Jesus said to her, “for you have had five husbands, 
and the man you now have is not your husband; in 
this you have spoken truly.” 

“T see, Sir, that you are a prophet,” replied the 
woman. “ Our forefathers worshiped in this moun- 
tain, yet you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place 
where one must worship.” 


The True Worship 


“Woman, believe me,” said J esus, “‘ that the hour 
is coming when neither in this mountain nor in 
Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You are 
worshiping something you do not know: we know 
what we worship, for salvation comes from the 
Jews. But an hour is coming, and is now here, 
when the true worshipers will worship the Father 
in spirit and in truth. For the Father is seeking 
such as his worshipers. God is spirit, and those 
who worship him must worship him in spirit and in 
truth.” 


Jesus Declares His Messiahship 


“TI know,” said the woman, “that Messiah is 
coming, who is called the Christ; when he has come 
he will tell us everything.” 


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By) 


34 


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JOHN 4 


Jesus said to her, “I who am now talking to you, 
am he.” 


The First Missionary 


Just then his disciples came up, and were aston- 
ished that he was talking with a woman; yet not 
one of them asked him, “‘ What do you want?” or 
“Why are you talking with her?”’ 

Then the woman left her water-jar, and went 
away into the city and began saying to the people: 

“Come! see a man who has told me everything 
that I ever did. He can’t be the Christ, can he?” 

They left the city and set out to go to him. 


Food of the Spirit 

Meanwhile the disciples kept urging him: 
“ Rabbi,” they said, “eat something.” But he an- 
swered, 

“T have food to eat of which you know nothing.” 

So the disciples began to say to one another, 

“Can any one have brought him something to 
eat? ” 

Jesus said to them: 

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, 
and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘It 
wants yet four months, and then comes the har- 
vest’? Look, I tell you! Lift up your eyes and 
behold the fields, that they are already white for 
harvest. The reaper is already receiving wages 
and gathering a crop for eternal life, so that the 
sower and the reaper may rejoice together. For in 
this respect the saying is true, ‘One sows, an- 
other reaps.’ I sent you to reap a crop on which 
you have not toiled. Others have toiled, and you 
have reaped the benefit of their toil.” 


The Samaritans Believe 


Many of the Samaritans of that city believed on 
him because of the word of the woman when she de- 
clared, ‘“ He told me everything that I ever did.” 

So when the Samaritans arrived, they began ask- 
ing him to remain with them; and he stayed there 


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JOHN 4 


two days. Then many more believed because of 
what he said, himself; and they told the woman: 

“ We_no longer believe because of what you said: 
for we ourselves have heard him, and we know that 
this is certainly the Saviour of the world.” 


Welcomed in Galilee 


After these two days Jesus went away from there 
into Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a 
prophet has no honor in his own country. When 
he reached Galilee, however, the Galileans wel- 
comed him, for they had seen all that he did in 
Jerusalem at the feast; for they, too, had been at 
the feast. 


Jesus’ Second Miracle 


So he came back again to Cana of Galilee, where 
he made the water wine. Now there was one of 
the king’ s officers whose son was lying ill at Caper- 
naum. When he heard that Jesus had eome from 
Judea into Galilee, he went to him, and begged him 
to come down and heal his son who was lying at 
the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, 

“Unless you all see signs and wonders, you will 
not believe.” 

“Sir,” said the king’s officer, “‘ come down before 
my little boy dies.’’ 

Jesus answered: ‘Go your way. Your son lives.” 

And the man believed the word which Jesus 
spoke to him, and started to go home. And when 
he was already on his‘ way down, his slaves met him, 
saying that his boy was living. So he asked them 
at what hour he had begun to mend. 

They answered, “‘ Yesterday, about one o’clock, 
the fever left him.” 

Then the father realized that it had left him 
at the very hour when Jesus had said to him, “ Your 
son lives,” and he himself believed, and his whole 
household. This is the second sign which Jesus 
performed, on returning from Judzxa to Galilee. 


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12 


“up your bed and go walking away 


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14 


JOHN 5 


Vv 


JESUS CURES A CRIPPLE AND DEFENDS 
HIS MESSAGE 


The Cripple at the Bethesda Pool 


After this there was a feast of the Jews, and 
Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jeru- 
salem a pool near the Sheep-gate, called in the 
Hebrew, Bethesda. It has five colonnades. In these 
there used to lie a great crowd of sick people— 
blind, lame, paralyzed.*. And there was one man 
there for thirty-eight years in his infirmity. When 
Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had 
been there a long time, he said to him, 

“Do you want to get well?” 

“ Sir,’ answered the sick man, “I have no man 
to put me into the pool whenever the water is 
troubled; and while I am trying to come, some one 
else steps down before me.” 

“ Rise,” said Jesus, “take up your bed and go 
walking away.” 

Instantly the man became well, and he took up his 
bed and started to walk. Now it was Sabbath on 
that day; so the Jews kept saying to the man who 
had been cured: 

“Tt is the Sabbath Day; it is not lawful for you 
to carry your bed.” 

He replied, 

“The man who healed me told me to take up my 
bed and walk.” 

““ Who is it,” they asked, “‘ that said to you, ‘ Take 
799 

But he who had been healed did not know bilo it 
was, for Jesus had moved away, as there was a 
crowd in that place. Afterward Jesus found him 
in the Temple, and said to him: 

“Look! You have become well. Do not go on 
sinning, lest a worse thing befall you.” 


1Verse 4 is wanting in the oldest manuscripts. 


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JOHN 5 


The Sabbath Question 


The man went and told the Jews that it was 
Jesus who had made him well; and because of 
this the Jews began to persecute Jesus, because 
he had done it on the Sabbath. But he answered 
them, 

“My Father has continued working until now, 
and I am working, too.” 

For this reason the Jews continued to seek the 
more eagerly to put him to death, because not only 
was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was actually 
speaking of God as his own Father, thus making 
himself God’s equal. So Jesus answered them in 
these words: 


The Father and the Son 


“In solemn truth I tell you that the Son cannot 
do anything of himself, except what he sees the 
Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son 
does also. For the Father loves the Son, and shows 
him everything. that he himself is doing. And 
greater deeds than these will he show him, that you 
may wonder. For just as the Father raises the 
dead and makes them alive, even so the Son makes 
whom he will alive. The Father indeed does not 
judge any one, but has given all judgment to the 
Son, in order that all may honor the Son even 
as they honor the Father. He who does not honor 
the Son, does not honor the Father who sent him. 


Eternal Life 


“T tell you solemnly that he who listens to my 
message and believes Him who sent me, has eternal 
life. He will not come under condemnation, but has 
passed out of death into life. Solemnly I tell you 
that the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead 
shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those 
who hear shall live. For as the Father has life in 
himself, so also has he granted to the Son to have 
life in himself. And he has given him authority 
to pronounce judgment, because he is Son of man. 


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JOHN 5 


Do not wonder at this, because an hour is coming 
in which all who are in their graves shall hear his 
voice and shall come forth; those who have done 
good into a resurrection of life, and those who have 
practised evil to a resurrection of condemnation. 


Not Self-seeking, but Obedience 


“T ean of my own self do nothing. As [I listen, 
I judge, and my judgment is just, because I am not 
seeking my own will, but the will of Him who sent 
me. If I bear testimony concerning myself, my 
testimony is not valid. Another bears testimony 
to me, and I know that the testimony which he bears 
concerning me is valid. 


Christ’s Testimony to John 


“You yourselves sent to John, and he has been 
and is a witness to the truth. (Though for myself 
I accept no witness from man; I only mention this 
that you may be saved.) That man was the Lamp— 
burning and shining—and you were willing for a 
time to rejoice in his light. 


God’s Testimony to Christ 


“But I have testimony greater than that of 
John; for the work which the Father has given me 
to bring to completion—the work which I am do- 
ing—bears testimony concerning me, that the Father 
has sent me. And the Father who sent me has him- 
self borne testimony concerning me. None of you 
have heard his voice at any time or seen him, 
nor had his word dwelling within you, because you 
do not believe him whom he sent. 


Testimony of the Old Testament to Christ 


“You are searching the Scriptures because you 
suppose that in them you have eternal life; and 
though these are they that bear witness concerning 
me, you will not come to me that you may have 
life. I am not receiving honor from men, but 
I know you, that you have not the love of God in 


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JOHN 6 


yourselves. I am come in the name of my Father, 
and you do not receive me. If another comes in his 
own name, him you will receive. How can you be- 
lieve when you receive glory from one another, and 
have no desire for the glory which comes from the 
only God? Do not imagine that I shall accuse you 
to the Father. Moses is your accuser, on whom you 
build your hopes. For if you believed Moses you 
would believe me, for he wrote about me. And if 
you do not believe his writings, how will you ever 
believe my words? ”’? 


1 Some scholars believe that the section, Chapter 7 : 15-24, 
originally belonged at the end of Chapter 5, to which it is 
closely joined in thought. 


VI 
JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE 


Feeding of the Five Thousand 


After this Jesus went away across the Sea of 
Galilee (that is the lake of Tiberias). <A great 
crowd were following him, because they witnessed 
the signs which he was continually performing 
among those who were ill. 

Then Jesus walked up the hill and sat down 
there with his disciples. Now the Jewish feast, the 
Passover, was at hand. Accordingly when he looked 
up, and perceived a great crowd was coming unto 
him, he said to Philip, 

“Where shall we buy bread for these people to 
eat? ” 

He said this to test him, for he himself knew 
what he intended to do. 

“ Thirty-five dollars worth of bread,” answered 
Philip, “is not enough for them, so that each can 
take a morsel.’ 

One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of 
Simon, said to him: 

“There is a little lad who has five barley loaves 


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JOHN 6 


and a couple of fish; but what is that among so 
many?” 

“Make the men sit down,” said Jesus. The 
ground was covered with thick grass; so the men 
sat down, in number about five thousand. Then 
Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks 
he distributed them among those who were seated; 
in like manner also of the fish, as much as they 
wished, and when they were satisfied, he said to 
his disciples, 

“Gather up the fragments that are left, so that 
nothing may be wasted.” 

So they gathered them up, and filled twelve 
baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves 
—the broken pieces that were left after they had 
eaten. So when the people saw the sign which he 
had performed, they said, 

“This is in truth the Prophet who is to come into 
the world.” 


Jesus Walks on the Water 


When Jesus perceived that they intended to come 
and seize him in order to make him a king, he 
retired again to the hill, all by himself. When 
evening came on, his disciples went down to the sea. 
There they got into a boat, and started across the 
sea for Capernaum. The darkness had already 
fallen, Jesus had not yet come to them, and the sea 
began to rise, because a strong wind was blowing. 
After they had rowed three or four miles, they saw 
Jesus walking upon the sea, and drawing near to 
the boat, and they were terrified; but he said to 
them, 

“Tt is I, be not afraid.” 

Then they were willing to take him on board, and 
immediately the boat reached the shore they were 
making for. 


The Crowd Follows Jesus 


The crowd that remained on the other side of the 
sea had seen that there was only one small boat 
there, and that Jesus had not gone aboard with his 


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JOHN 6 


disciples, but that his disciples had gone away by 
themselves. So, on the following day, when boats 
came from Tiberias near the place where they had 
eaten bread after the Lord had given thanks, they 
got into the boats themselves, when they saw that 
neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, and went 
to Capernaum to look for Jesus. 


For the Loaves and Fishes 


When they had found him on the other side of the 
sea, they said to him, 

“Rabbi, when did you get here?” 

Jesus answered: 

“In solemn truth I tell you that you are looking 
for me, not because you saw miracles [signs], but 
because you ate of the bread and were filled. Labor 
not for the food which perishes, but for the food 
that endures unto eternal life—that food which the 
Son of man will give you; for on him the Father— 
God—has set his seal.” 


What Is the Work of God? 


“What are we to do habitually,” they asked him, 
“that we may keep working the works of God? ” 

“ This is the work of God,” answered J esus, ‘‘ that 
you believe on him whom He has sent.” 


What Sign Do You Do? 


Then they said to him: 

“What sign, then, are you performing, so that 
we may see it and come to believe in you? What 
work are you doing? Our fathers ate the manna 
in the wilderness, as it is written, ‘He gave them 
bread out of heaven to eat.’ ” 

“In solemn truth I tell you,” said Jesus in reply, 
“Moses did not give you the bread out of heaven, 
but my Father does give you the true bread out of 
heaven; for the bread of God is what comes down 
from heaven, and gives life to the world.” 

“Ah, Sir,” said they, “evermore give us this 
bread.” 


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JOHN 6 


The Bread of Life 


“T myself am the bread of life,” answered Jesus; 
‘he who comes to me shall never hunger, and he 
that believes on me shall never thirst again. But 
as I told you, you have seen me, and yet you do not 
believe. Every one whom the Father gives me will 
come to me; and him who comes to me I will never 
reject. For I am come down from heaven, not to do 
my own will, but the will of Him who sent me. 
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I 
should not lose one of all those whom he has given 
me, but should raise them up at the last day. 
For this is my Father’s will, that every one who 
beholds the Son and believes on him, shall have 
eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” 


Jewish Objectors 


Then the Jews began to find fault with Jesus, 
because he said, “I am the bread which comes down 
out of heaven,” and they kept asking: 

“Ts not this Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we 
not know his father and mother? How is it that he 


now says, ‘I have come down from heaven ’?” 


He Who Believes Has Eternal Life 


“Do not find fault with me among yourselves,” 
answered Jesus; “no one can come to me unless the 
Father who sent me draw him; then I will raise him 
up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, 

“And they shall all of them be taught of God.’ 
Every one who has listened to the Father and learns 
from him, comes to me. Not that any one has seen 
the Father, except the one who is from God; he has 
seen the Father. I tell you solemnly that he who 
believes has eternal life. 


My Flesh Given for the Life of the World 


49 “Tam the bread of life. Your fathers ate the 
manna in the wilderness; yet they died. This is the 
bread that comes down from heaven, that one may 


1Tsa. 54 : 18. 
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JOHN 6 


eat thereof and never die. I myself am the living 
bread that has come down from heaven. Any one 
who eats this bread will live forever; and more- 
over, the bread which I will give is my flesh, given 
for the life of the world.” 

Then the Jews began to dispute among themselves, 
saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to 
eat? ” 


Our Life Is in Him 


“T tell you solemnly,” said Jesus, “that unless 
you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his 
blood, you have no life in you. He who feeds upon 
my flesh, and drinks my blood has eternal life, and 
I will raise him up in the last day. For my flesh 
is true food, and my blood is true drink. He who 
feeds upon my flesh and drinks my blood abides in 
me and I in him. Just as the living Father has 
sent me, and I live by the Father, so also that man 
who feeds on me shall live by me. This is the 
bread which came down from heaven; not such as 
your fathers ate and died, for he who feeds upon 
this bread shall live forever.” 


This Doctrine too Hard for Many 


He spoke these words while in the synagogue, 
while he was teaching in Capernaum. So many of 
his disciples, when they heard it; Sate * 

“This teaching is unbelievable! Who can listen 
to him?” 

Jesus, conscious within himself that his disciples 
were finding fault with him about this teaching, said 
to them: 


Words That Are Spirit 


“ Does this displease you? What then if you were 
to behold the Son of man ascending to where he 
was before? The spirit is what gives life ; the flesh 
is of no avail. The words which I have been speak- 
ing to you, are spirit and are life. Yet there are 
some of you who do not believe.” 

For Jesus knew from the beginning who. they 


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JOHN 7 


were who did not believe, and who it was who should 
betray him. So he added, 
“This is why I told you that no one can come to 
me unless it be given him from the Father.” 
Therefore many of his disciples drew back and 
no longer companied with him. So Jesus appealed 
to the Twelve: 


To Whom Shall We Go? 


“ You also do not wish to leave me, do you? ” 

Simon Peter answered: 

“To whom shall we go, Master? You have words 
of eternal life; and we have learned to believe and 
we know that you are the Holy One of God.” 

In reply Jesus said to them: 

“Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? And yet 
even of you one is an enemy.” 

Now Jesus was speaking of Judas, the son of 
Simon Iscariot; for Judas was to betray him, al- 
though he was one of the Twelve. 


Vil 
JESUS, THE WATER OF LIFE 


Jesus’ Brothers Unbelieving 


After these things Jesus continued to travel about 
in Galilee, for he did not wish to go about in 
Judza, because the Jews kept trying to kill him. 
When the time of the Jewish feast of Tabernacles 
drew near, his brothers said to him: 

“ Leave here and go into Judzxa, so that your dis- 
ciples also may behold the works which you are 
doing. For no one ever does anything in secret if 
he himself seeks to be known publicly. If you are 
performing these signs, show yourself openly to 
the world.” 

For even his own brothers did not believe in him. 

“My time is not yet come,” said Jesus, “‘ but your 
time is always at hand. The world cannot hate you, 
but me it does hate, because I am bearing testimony 


261 


JOHN 7 


8 against it, that its ways are wicked. Do you go 
up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast 


3 
because my time is not yet fully come.” 


Various Views of Jesus 
9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee; but 
10 after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he 
went too—not openly, but as it were in secret. 


11 The Jews meanwhile kept looking for him at the > 


12 feast, and saying, “ Where is he?” and there was — 


much disputing about him among the crowd. 
Some would say, “He is a good man.” 
Others: “ No! he is misleading the people.” 


13. No one, however, was speaking openly about him, | 


for fear of the Jews. 


14 But when it was already the middle of the feast, — 


Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. 
15 The Jews were amazed. They said, - 

“How does this fellow know the sacred writings, 
when he has never learned them? ” 


Jesus Defines His Teaching 


16 In reply Jesus said to them: 
“My teaching is not mine, but is His who sent me. 
17 If any one wills to do God’s will he shall know 
concerning my teaching, whether it is from God, 
18 or I speak on my own authority. The man who 
speaks on his own authority is always seeking his 
own glory. But one who is eager for the glory of 
Him who sent him, he is true, and there is nothing 
19 false about him. Did not Moses give you the Law? 
Yet none of you is keeping the Law. Why are 
you seeking’ to kill me? ” . 


A Sabbatarian Argument 


20 The crowd answered: 
“You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you? ” 

21 Jesus answered them: 
“There was one thing I did, and you are all 
22 amazed. Consider, therefore, Moses has given you 
circumcision—not that Moses originated it, but the 
fathers—and you are accustomed to circumcise a 


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JOHN 7 


child even on the Sabbath. If a child receives cir- 
cumcision on the Sabbath, in order that the Law 
of Moses may not be broken, how can you be angry 
with me because I have made a man sound and 
well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to 
appearance. Judge justly.” 


The People Question 


Then some of the men of Jerusalem were saying: 

“Ts not this the man they are seeking to kill? 
And look! he is speaking boldly and they are saying 
nothing to him. Can it possibly be that the rulers 
have really discovered that he is the Christ? But 
we know this man and where he is from; but when 
the Christ comes no one will know where he comes 
from.” 


Jesus Answers Them 


So Jesus cried aloud as he was teaching in the 
Temple, and said: 

“You both know me and you know where I am 
from; and I am not come on my own authority, but 
He who sent me is trustworthy, and him you do 
not know. But I know him, because I am from him 
and he sent me.” 

Then they kept seeking to arrest him, but no man 
laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet 
come. But many of the crowd believed on him and 
began to say, 

“The Christ, when he comes, will he do more 
signs than this man has done?” | 


The Pharisees Seek His Arrest 


The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these 
things about him, and the high priests and Phar- 
isees sent officers to arrest him. Then Jesus said to 
them: 


“TI Go to God” 
“ Still for a little longer I am with you, and then 


384 I am going my way to Him who sent me. You will 


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JOHN 7 


search for me and will not find me, and where I am 
you cannot come.” 


You Cannot Find Me 


Then the Jews said to one another: 

‘Where does this fellow intend to go, so that 
we shall not find him? He is not intending to go 
to the Dispersion among the Greeks and to teach 
the Greeks, is he? What does he mean by saying, 
‘You shall seek me and you shall not find me,’ and 
“Where I am you cannot come’? ” 


Living Water for the Thirsty 


Now on the last day, that great day of the feast, 
Jesus stood up and cried in a loud voice: 

“Tf any man thirst let him come to me and drink. 
From the heart of him who believes in me will 
flow, as the Scripture said, rivers of living 
water,” 

Now he said this concerning the Spirit whom 
those who believed in him should receive. For the 
Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus had not yet 
been glorified. 


Mutterings of the Crowd 


Some of the crowd who had been listening to these 
discourses began to say, 

*‘ Without doubt this man is the Prophet.” 

Others kept saying, 

“He is the Christ.” 

But others were saying: 

“ Surely the Christ is not to come out of Galilee, 
is he? Does not the Scripture say that the Christ is 
coming of the descendants of David, and from Beth- 
lehem, David’s town? ’’? 


Report of the Officers 


So a division arose in the crowd concerning him. 
Some of them wished to apprehend him, but no one 
laid hands on him. Then the officers returned to 


1 Micah 5 : 2. 
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JOHN & 


45 the chief priests and Pharisees, and they asked 
them, 
“Why have you not brought him? ” 
46 The officers answered, 
“Never yet did a man speak like this man.” 


The Pharisees Scorn Him 
47 “Surely you too have not been led astray, have 
48 you?” answered the Pharisees. ‘Not one of the 
rulers has believed on him, has he? nor one of the 
49 Pharisees? As for this mob who do not understand 
the Law, they are accursed! ” 


Nicodemus Speaks 


50 Nicodemus, one of their number, he who had 
formerly visited Jesus, said to them, 

51 “Our law does not condemn the accused, does it, 
before hearing his defense, and finding out what he 
is doing? ” 

52 In answer they said té him: 

“You yourself are not from Galilee, are you? 
Search for yourself, and see that from Galilee arises 
no prophet.” 

58 Then they departed each to his own house. 


VIll 
JESUS: THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD 


Jesus Writes on the Ground | 
1,2 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn, 
however, he came back to the Temple, where the 
people came to him in;erowds. He had taken his 
3 seat and was teaching them, when the Scribes and 
Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in 
the act of adultery. They made her stand in the 
middle of the court, and said to him: 

“ Rabbi, this woman has been found in the very 
act of adultery. Now Moses, in the Law, has com- 
manded us to stone such creatures. But you, what 
do you say?” 


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JOHN 8 


(This they said to tempt him, so that they could 
bring a charge against him.) But Jesus stooped 
down, and began to write on the ground with his 
finger. When they continued to question him, he 
raised himself and said to them, 

“Let the innocent man among you be the first 
to throw a stone at her.” 

Then he stooped down again, and again began 
to write on the ground. When they heard that, they 
went out one by one, beginning with the eldest. 
And Jesus was left behind alone—and the woman 
in the middle of the court. 

Then Jesus raised himself up and said to her: 

“Woman, where are they? Has no man con- 
demned you?” 

“No one, Sir,” she answered. 

“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, 
and never sin again.” 


The Testimony of the Father and of the Son 


Once more Jesus addressed them. 

“T am the Light of the world,” he said; “ He who 
follows me shall not walk in the darkness, but he 
shall have the Light of life.” 

Then said the Pharisees to him: 

“You are bearing testimony to yourself; your 
testimony is not true.” 

In reply Jesus said to them: 

“Hiven if I do bear testimony concerning myself, 
my testimony is true, because I know where I have 
come from and where I am going. But you do not 
know where I have come from, or where I am go- 
ing. For you are judging according to the flesh. I 
am judging no man. Though even if I do judge, 
my judgment is trustworthy, because I am not alone, 
but the Father who sent me is with me. And in 
your Law it is written that the testimony of two 
men is true." I am one who gives testimony con- 
cerning myself, and the Father who sent me gives 
testimony concerning me.” 


1Deut. 19 : 15. 
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JOHN 8 


‘Where is your Father? ” they asked him. 

“You have known neither me nor my Father,” 
answered Jesus. “If you had known me, you would 
have known my Father also.” 

He said these words in the Treasury, while he 
was teaching in the Temple; yet no one arrested 
him, because his hour was not yet come. 


“The Time of My Departure Is at Hand” 


Then again he said to them: 

“T am going away, and you will seek me, and you 
will die in your sins. Where I am going, you can- 
not come. 

Then the Jews said: “He will not kill himself, 
will he? Is that why he says, ‘Where I am going 
you cannot come’? ” 

And he said to them: 

“You are from below. I am from above; you are 
of this world, I am not of this world. That is why 
I said that you would die in your sins. For if you 
do not believe that I am He, you will die in your 
sins.” : : 

“Who are you? ” then they asked him. 

“What I am telling you from the beginning,” 
Jesus answered. “I have many things to say and 
to judge concerning you. But He who sent me 
is true, and I speak to the world only those things 
which I have heard from him.” 

They did not understand that he meant the 
Father, so Jesus added: 


I Always Please Him 


“When you have lifted up the Son of man, then 
you will know that I am He; and that I do nothing 
on my own authority, but that 1 speak just as the 
Father has taught me, and he who sent me is with 
me. He has not left me alone, for I do always the 
things that please him.” 

When he spoke in this way, many of the Jews 
believed in him. 


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JOHN 8 


Knowing Truth Is Freedom 


So Jesus spoke to the Jews who had believed him, 
saying = 

“If you abide in my teaching, you are my true 
disciples; and you will know the truth, and the 
truth will make you free.” 

“We are descendants of Abraham,” they replied, 
“and have never been in slavery to any man. What 
do you mean by saying, ‘ You will become free’? ” 


The Slaves of Sin 


“Tn solemn truth I tell you,” Jesus replied, “ every 
one who commits sin is a slave. Now the slave does 
not remain permanently in the household, but the 
son does remain. So then, if the Son shall set you 
free, you will be free indeed. I know you are Abra- 
ham’s descendants; but you are seeking to kill me, 
because my teaching has no place in you. I am 
declaring what I have seen with the Father, and 
you are acting as you have learned from your 
father.” 


Abraham’s Children 


“Abraham is our father,” they answered. 

“If you are Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “ do 
the deeds of Abraham. But now you are seeking to 
kill me—a man who has told you the truth which 
I heard from God. Abraham did not do that. You 
are doing the deeds of your father.” 

“We were not born of adultery,” they said; 
“we have one Father, God.” 


God’s Children Know God’s Son 


Jesus said to them: 

“If God were your Father, you would love me, 
for I proceeded forth and am now come from God. I 
did not come on my own authority, but God himsel? 
sent me forth. How is it that you do not under- 
stand what I say? It is because you cannot listen 
to my message. 


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JOHN 8 


“You are of your father, the devil, and you want 
to do what your father desires. He was a man- 
slayer from the very beginning; and he has no 
standing-place in the truth, because truth is not in 
him. Whenever he utters a lie, he speaks from his 
nature, for he is a liar and the father of lying. 
But as for me, it is because I speak the truth to 
you that you do not believe me. Which one of you 
convicts me of sin? Why then, if 1 am speaking 
the truth, do you not believe me? He who is from 
God listens to God’s words. For this reason you do 
not listen, because you are not from God.” 


Jesus Called a Demoniac 


In reply the Jews said to him, 

“Are we not right in saying that you are a 
Samaritan, and you also have a demon? ” 

“1 do not have a demon,” said Jesus, “but I am 
honoring my Father, and you are dishonoring me. 
Yet I am not seeking my own honor. There is One 
who is seeking it, and He is judge. In solemn truth 
I tell you that if any one obeys my teaching he 
shall never behold death,” 

“Now we know that you have a demon,” ex- 
claimed the Jews. “ Abraham died, and so did the 
prophets; and yet you say, ‘If any man obeys my 
teaching he shall never taste death.” You are not 
greater than our father Abraham, are you? And 


_he died, and the prophets died. Who are you mak- 


57 


ing yourself out to be? ” 


Before Abraham Was, I Am 

“If I glorify myself,” said Jesus, ‘“ my glory is 
nothing. It is my Father that glorifies me, and you 
say, ‘He is our God.’ You are not acquainted with 
him; I know him. Were I to say, ‘I do not know 
him,’ I should be like you, a liar. But I do know 
him, and I obey his teaching. Your father Abraham 
rejoiced that he should see my day; and he saw it 
and was glad.” 

“You are not yet fifty years old,” said the Jews 
to him, “and you have seen Abraham?” 


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JOHN 9 


“In solemn truth I tell you,” answered J esus, 
“that before Abraham came into existence, I am.” 

Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but 
Jesus hid himself and went out of the Temple. 


IX 
THE HEALING OF THE BLIND MAN 


A Blind Man Sees 


Now as he was passing along he saw a man, blind 
from birth. 

“Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “who sinned, 
this man or his parents, that he was born blind? ” 

“Neither he nor his parents sinned,” replied 
Jesus; “it happened that the works of God might 
be made manifest in him. I must work the works 
of him that sent me while it is day; night is coming, 
when no man can work. While I am in the world, 
I am the Light of the world.” 

When he had thus spoken he spat on the ground, 
and made clay with the spittle, and smeared the 
clay on the man’s eyes. Then he said to him, 

“Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (a word which 
means “ sent ’’). 

So the man went and washed his eyes, and came 
back seeing. 


The Crowd Amazed 


‘Upon this the neighbors and those who used to 
know him by sight as a beggar, began asking, 

“Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?” 

Some said, “It is he.” 

Others said, “‘ No, but he looks like him.” 

“T am the man,” he said. 

So they asked him, “How then were your eyes 
opened? ” 

He answered: 

“The man who is called Jesus made clay and 
anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam 


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22 


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JOHN 9 


and wash’; so I went and washed and received my 
sight.” 

“ Where is he?” they asked. 

“T do not know,” answered the man. 


The Blind Man Questioned 


Then they brought the man who had been blind 
to the Pharisees. Now it was on the Sabbath that 
Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes; so the 
Pharisees again began to ask him questions about 
how he had regained his sight; and he said to them, 

“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed them, and 
now I see.” 

Then some of the Pharisees began to say, 

“This man is not from God, because he does not 
keep the Sabbath.” 9 

But others said, : 

“ How can a man who is a sinner perform such 
signs?” 

So there was a difference of opinion among them. 
Accordingly they said to the blind man, 

“ What have you to say about him, now that he 
has opened your eyes?” 

“He is a prophet,” he answered. 


The Parents of the Blind Man Summoned 


The Jews, however, did not believe about him that 
he was blind and had received his sight, until they 
called the parents of the man whose sight had been 
restored, and questioned them. 

“Ts this your son,” they said, “ who you say was 
born blind? How then does he now see? ” 

Then in reply his parents said: 

“We know that this is our son, and that he was 
born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, 
nor do we know who has opened his eyes. Ask 
him, himself. He is of age. He will speak for 
himself.” 

This his parents said because they were afraid of 
the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if 
any one should confess him to be the Christ, he 
should be expelled from the synagogue. It was 


271 


JOHN 9 


because of this that his parents said: “He is of 
age. Ask him, himself.” 


The Man Again Questioned 


24 So the Jews a second time summoned the man 
who had been blind, and said to him: 

25 “Give glory to God! We know that this man is 
a sinner.” 

Upon this the blind man answered: 

“I do not know if he is a sinner. One thing I do 
know, that once I was blind, and now I can see.” 

26 “What was it he did to you?” they asked him; 
“How did he open your eyes? ” 
27 He answered: 

“T have told you already, and you did not listen. 
Why do you wish to hear it again? Can it be that 
you, too, wish to become his disciples? ” 

28 Then they stormed at him: 

“You are his disciple. We are Moses’ disciples. 

29 We know that God spoke to Moses. But this fel- 
low! We do not know where he comes from.” 

30 “This is truly astonishing,” said the man in 
reply, “that you do not know where he is from, and 

31 yet he has opened my eyes. We know that God 
does not listen to sinners, but that if any one is 
God-fearing and does his will, to such he listens. 

32 Since the beginning of the world such a thing as 
opening the eyes of one who was born blind was 

33 never heard of. If this man had not come from 
God, he could have done nothing.” 


They Excommunicate the Blind Man 


34 They answered, 
“You were wholly born in sins, and do you teach 
us??? 
Then they cast him out. 


Jesus Finds Him 


35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when 
he had found him, he said, 
“Do you believe in the Son of man?” 


272 


JOHN 10 


36 “Who is he, Sir,” he replied, “ that I may believe 
on him.” 

37. “You have. already seen him,” Jesus answered, 
“and it is he who is now speaking to you.” 

38 “I do believe, Sir,’ said the man, and he pros- 
trated himself at his feet. 


Blindness of the Pharisees 
And Jesus said, 
39 “For judgment am I come into the world, to make 
the sightless see, and to make the seeing blind.” 
40 Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard 
this and asked, 
‘We are not blind, are we?” 
41 “If you were blind,” Jesus answered them, “vou 
would have no sin. But now you are declaring, 
‘We see’; so your sin remains. 


x 


VERSES 19-30* 


The Jews Are Divided 
19 The Jews were again divided over these words. 
20 Many of them kept saying: 
“He has a demon and is mad! Why do you 
listen to him?” 
21 Others were saying: 
“ These are not the words of one demon-possessed. 
Can a demoniac open the eyes of the blind?” 


Jesus Appeals to His Miracles 
292 Then came the feast of the Dedication at Jeru- 
22 salem. It was winter, and Jesus used to walk in 
24 the Temple, in Solomon’s Portico. Then all the 
Jews encircled him and kept asking him: 
“How long are you going to keep us in suspense? 
If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 


1Transposing Chapter 10 : 19-30 to the close of Chapter 9, 
in order to preserve the sequence of thought. 


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My Sheep Hear My Voice 

Jesus answered them: 

“T have told you, and you do not believe. The 
works which I am doing i in my Father’s name, these 
bear witness concerning me. But you do not be- 
lieve, because you are not of my sheep. My sheep 
listen to my voice, and I know them and they follow 
me. I am giving them eternal life, and they shall 
never perish, nor shall any one snatch them out of 
my hand. My Father who has given them to me 
is stronger than all, and no one can snatch them out 
of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” 


x 
THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD 


Parable of the Sheepfold 

“In solemn truth I tell you that whoever does 
not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs 
up some other way, that man is a thief and a 
robber; but he who comes in by the door is the 
Shepherd of the sheep. The porter opens the door 
for him; the sheep listen to his voice; and he calls 
his own sheep by name, and leads them out. When 
he has brought all his own sheep, he walks before 
them and the sheep follow him because they know 
his voice. But a stranger they will not follow, but 
flee from him, because they do not know the voice 
of strangers.” 

Jesus told them this parable, but they did not un- 
derstand what he was talking about; so he said to 
them again: 


“T Am the Door” 


“In solemn truth I tell you that I am the Door 
of the sheep. All that came before me are thieves 
and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 
I am the Door. Whoever enters by me shall be 
saved, and he shall go in and come out and find 
pasture. The thief never comes except to steal and 


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kill and destroy. I am come that they may have 
life, and may have it in abundance. 


I Am the Shepherd 


“T am the good‘ shepherd. The good shep- 
herd lays down his very life for the sheep. The 
hired servant, since he is not a shepherd and does 
not own the sheep, leaves the sheep and flees when 
he sees the wolf coming—and the wolf worries them 
and scatters them. He is only a-hired servant, and 
the sheep are no care to him. 

“T am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, 
and my sheep know me; just as the Father knows 
me, and I know the Father, and I lay down my life 
for the sheep. I have other sheep also, which do 
not belong to this fold. I must bring them too, and 
they will listen to my voice, and they will become 
one flock, one shepherd. The Father loves me for 
this, because I am laying down my life that I may 
take it again. No man is taking it away from me. 
I am laying it down of my own accord. I have 
authority to lay it down, and I have authority to 
take it again. I received this commandment from 
my Father.” ? 


They Try to Stone Him 

The Jews again took stones with which to stone 
him. Jesus said to them: 

“Many deeds have I shown you, good deeds, from 
my Father. For which of these are you going to 
stone me? ” 

“We are not going to stone you for a good deed,” 
answered, the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because 
you, a mere man, are making yourself God.” 


Believe Me for the Work’s Sake 


“Ts it not written in your law,” replied Jesus, “ ] 
said, You are gods?* If those to whom the word 


_ +The word used is not the ordinary word for “ good.’ It 
is variously translated elsewhere ‘‘ noble,’’ ‘‘ perfect,’’ ‘‘ beau- 
tiful,’’ ‘‘ glorious,’’ “‘ ideal.” 

2 Verses 19-30 will be found at the end of Chapter 9. 

% Pg. 682" 36, 


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of God came are called gods (and the Scripture 
cannot be annulled), do you mean to tell me, whom 
the Father has sanctified and sent into the world, 
‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the 
Son of God’? If I am not doing the deeds of my 
Father, do not believe me. But if I am doing them, 
then though you believe not me, believe the deeds, 
in order that you may come to know and keep on 
clearly understanding that the Father is in me and 
I am in the Father.” 


Jesus Escapes 

Then again they attempted to seize him, but he 
escaped out of their hands, and went away egain 
across the Jordan to the place where John had been 
baptizing at first, and there he remained. Many 
who came to him said, 

“John did not perform any sign, but everything 
he said about this man was true.” 

And many believed on him there. 


XI 


THE RAISING OF LAZARUS 


The Illness of Lazarus 


Now.a man named Lazarus was ill. He was from 
Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha 
—it was that Mary who anointed the Lord with 
perfume and wiped his feet with her hair, whose 
brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, 
saying: 

“‘ Master, see! he whom you hold dear is ill.” 

When Jesus heard it he said, 

“This illness is not unto death, but for the clory 
of God, that through it the Son of God may be glori- 
fied.” 


Jesus on the Way 

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and 
Lazarus. However, when he heard that he was ill. 
he still remained where he was for two days; then 
after that he said to his disciples, 


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“Let us go back again to Judea.” 

“ Rabbi,” answered his disciples, “it was but just 
now that the Jews were trying to stone you, and are 
you going there again? ” 

Jesus replied: 

“ Are there not twelve hours in the daytime? 
If any one walks in the daytime he does not 
stumble, because he beholds the light of this world; 
but if any one walks during the night he does 
stumble, because the light is not in him.” 

This he said, then told them, 

“Lazarus, our friend, has fallen asleep, but I 
am going to wake him.” 

“ Master, if he has fallen asleep, he will get -vell,” 
replied the disciples. 

Now Jesus had been speaking concerning his 
death, but they thought that he was talking about 
natural sleep. So then he told them plainly: 

“Lazarus is dead; and for your sakes I am glad 
I was not there, in order that you may believe. 
Come, let us go to him.” 

Upon this Thomas, who was called “ The Twin,” 


‘ said to his fellow disciples, 


“Let us go too, that we may die with him.” 


Lazarus Dead and Buried 


So when Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus 
had already been four days in the tomb. Now 
Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles 
away; so a number of the Jews had gone to Martha 
and Mary to sympathize with them concerning their 
brother. So when Martha learned that Jesus 
was coming, she went to meet him, but Mary 
remained sitting in the house. Then Martha said 
to Jesus: 

“Master, had you been here my brother would not 
have died; but even now I know that whatever you 
ask of God, God will give you.” 


“ The Resurrection and the Life” 


Jesus said to her, 
“ Your brother will rise again.” 


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Martha answered, 

“1 know that he will rise in the resurrection, at 
the Last Day.” 

“‘T am the resurrection and the life,” said Jesus. 
““He who believes in me, even if he has died, shall 
live. And every one who is living and believes in me 
shall never die. Do you believe this?” 

“Yes, Master,” she answered, “‘I have come to 
believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who 
was to come into the world.” 


Martha Summons Mary 


With these words she went away to call her sister 
Mary, saying privately, 

“The Teacher is come and is asking for you.” 

So when Mary heard this, she rose quickly and 
went to meet him. Jesus had not yet arrived in the 
village, but was still at the place where Martha 
met him. Then the Jews who were in the house 
trying to console her, when they saw that Mary 
rose quickly and went out, followed her, because 
they thought she was going to the tomb to weep 
there. When Mary came to the place. where 
Jesus was, and saw him, she fell at his feet, 
saying, | 

““Master, had you been here, my brother would 
not have died.” 


The Sympathy of Jesus 


Then when Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews 
likewise who accompanied her, sobbing, he shuddered 
with indignation in his spirit, and was deeply - 
distressed. 

“ Where have you laid him?” he said. 

‘* Master, come and see,” they answered. 

Jesus wept. 

“‘ See how he loved him,” said the Jews. But some 
of them said, 

“Could not this man, who has opened the eyes 
of the blind man, have prevented this man. also 
from dying? ” 


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The Dead Brought Back 


Jesus therefore, again shuddering in himself with 
indignation, came to the tomb, which was a cave 
with a stone lying upon it. 

“ Roll away the stone,” said Jesus. 

“ Master,” said Martha, the sister of the dead 
man, “he is offensive by this time, for he has been 
four days\in the tomb.” 

Jesus answered her, 

“Did I not tell you that if you would believe you 
should see the glory of God? ” 

Then they rolled the stone away; and Jesus lifted 
up his eyes and said: 

“Father, I thank thee that thou hast listened 
to me. And I knew that thou art ever listening 
to me, but for the sake of the crowd who are stand- 
ing about, I said it, in order that they may believe 
that thou hast sent me.” 

When he had said this he cried with a great voice, 

‘“ Lazarus, come forth! ” 

Out came the dead man, wrapped hand and foot 
with grave-clothes, and his face bound up in a 
napkin. Jesus said to them, 

“Untie him, and let him go.” 


The Pharisees Informed 


Many of the Jews, therefore, who had come with 
Mary, and had seen what he did, believed on him; 
but some of them went away to the Pharisees and 
told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests 
and Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. 

“ What are we going to do?” they said, “now 
that this man is performing many signs? If we 
leave him alone, this way, every one will believe on 
him, and the Romans will come and rob us of both 
our sacred place and of our people.” 


Caiaphas Prophesies 


But one of their number, Caiaphas by name, who 
was high priest that year, said to them, 
“You know nothing at,all, nor do you consider 


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that it is expedient for you that one man should 
die for the people, rather than the whole nation be 
destroyed.” 

Now he did not say this of his own accord; but 
as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus 
was about to die in behalf of the nation, and not in 
behalf of the nation alone, but in order that he 
might gather into one the widely scattered children 
of God. So from that day they plotted to kill him. 


Jesus Withdraws to Ephraim 


Jesus. therefore no longer went about publicly 
among the Jews, but went away from there into the 
region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, 
and there remained with his disciples. Now the 
Jewish Passover was near, and many people went 
up from the country to Jerusalem for purification 
before the Passover. So they kept looking for 
Jesus and saying to one another, as they stood in 
the Temple, 

“ What do you think—that he will not come to 
the feast at all?” 

Now the chief priests and Pharisees had given 
orders that if any one knew where he was, he should 
give information, so that they might arrest him. 


XII 


THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY: THE GREEKS 
SEEK JESUS 


Mary’s Box of Precious Perfume 


So then Jesus came, six days before the Passover, 
to Bethany, where Lazarus was whom Jesus had 
raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for 
him there, and Martha served it; but Lazarus was 
one of those who reclined with him at table. Then 
Mary took a pound of pure spikenard, very costly, 
and poured it over his feet, and wiped his feet 
with her hair, and the house was filled with the 
fragrance of the perfume. 


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Why this Waste? 


Then said Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, who 
was about to betray him, 

“ Why was not this perfume sold for fifty dollars, 
and the proceeds given to the poor?” 

This he , Said not because he cared for the poor, 
but because he was a thief, and, carrying the purse, 
used to purloin what. was put in it. Then said 
Jesus: 


Jesus Defends Mary 


“Let her alone. Against the day of my burial 
has she kept this; for the poor you have with you 
always, but me you have not always.” 

When the great mass of the Jews learned that 
Jesus was there, they came not alone because of 
Jesus, but to see Lazarus also, whom he had raised 
from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to 
kill Lazarus too, because it was on his account that 
many of the Jews were leaving them, and beginning 
to believe on Jesus. 


The Triumphal Entry 


Next day the big crowd who had come up for the 
Passover heard that Jesus was coming into Jeru- 
salem, and taking branches from the palm trees 
went out to meet him, and kept shouting, 

“ Hosanna! 

Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord. 

Even Israel’s King!” * 

And Jesus found a young ass and seated himself 
on it, as it is written, 

Fear not, daughter of Zion, 
Behold thy King cometh 
Seated upon an ass’s colt.’ 


The World Is Gone After Him 


His disciples did not understand these things at 
first; but when Jesus had been glorified, then they 


Sel LS ee Oe 
2Zech. 9: 9. 


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remembered that these things had been written 
concerning him, and what they had done to him. 
Meanwhile the crowd which was with him when he 
summoned Lazarus from the tomb and raised him 
from the dead, kept witnessing. For this reason, 
too, the crowd came to meet him, because they had 
heard about this sign which he had done. Then 
the Pharisees said among themselves: 

“You see! You can do nothing! Look! The 
world is gone after him! ” 


The Greeks Seek Jesus 


Now there were certain Greeks among those who 
had come up to worship during the Passover feast; 
these came to Philip of Bethsaida in Galilee, with a 
request: 

“ Sir,” they said, “‘ we want to see Jesus.” 

Philip went and told Andrew. Andrew and Philip 
went and told Jesus. Jesus answered: 


The Solemn Law of Life 


“The hour is come that the Son of man should be 
glorified. In solemn truth I tell you that except a 
kernel of wheat fall into the ground and die, it 
remains a single kernel; but if it die it bears a 
great crop. He who loves his life loses it; and he 
who regards not his life in this world shall keep it 
for eternal life. If any one is ready to serve me, 
let him follow me; and where I am there shall my 
servant be also. If any man is ready to serve me, 
him will my Father honor. Now is my soul dis- 
quieted. What shall I say? ‘Father, save me from 
this hour’? Nay, for this very cause I am come to 
this hour. Father, glorify thy name! ” 


God Speaks 


Whereupon there came a voice from heaven, say- 
ing, 
“T have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 
Then the crowd who stood around and heard it, 
said, 
“Tt thundered! ” 


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But others said, 

“ An angel has spoken to him.” 

“It is not for my sake,” answered Jesus, “that 
the voice came, but for your sakes. Now is a 
judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this 
world be driven out. 

“ AND I, IF I BE LIFTED UP FROM THE EARTH, 
WILL DRAW ALL MEN UNTO MYSELF.” 

(In saying this he was signifying by what kind 
of death he was to die.) Then the people answered: 

‘“ We have heard out of the Law that the Christ 
abides forever. What do you mean by ‘The Son 
of man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of 
man?” ; 


Walk in the Light 


“The Light is among you a little longer,” an- 
swered Jesus. “ Walk while you have the Light, 
lest darkness overtake you. He who walks in the 
darkness does not know where he is going. While 
you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you 
may become Sons of Light.” 


The Unbelief of the People 


With these words Jesus went away and hid him- 
self from them. But although he had wrought such 
signs in their presence, still they did not believe 
in him. So the words spoken by Isaiah, the prophet, 
were fulfilled: 

Lord, who hath believed our message, 

And to whom hath the Arm of the Lord been re- 
vealed? * 

This was why they could not believe, because 
Isaiah said again: 

He hath blinded their eyes and made their hearts 

hard, 

Lest they should see with their eyes, perceive with 

their minds, 

And should turn, and I should heal them.’ 

Isaiah uttered these words because he saw his 
glory, and he spoke of him. Nevertheless, even 


8Isa. 53:1. 4Isa. 6: 9, 10. 
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among the rulers many believed on him, but did not 
confess it on account of the Pharisees, for fear lest 
they be put out of the Synagogue. For they loved 
the approval of men rather than the approval of 
God. 


Jesus’ Appeal for Faith in Himself 


Now Jesus, speaking in a loud voice, had said: 

“He who believes in me believes not in me, but 
in Him who sent me; and he who sees me sees him 
who sent me. Like light am I come into the world, 
so that no one who believes in me may remain in 
darkness. And if any one hears my words and 
does not keep them, it is not I who judge him; for 
I am not come to judge the world, but to save the 
world. He who rejects me, and does not receive 
my words, has indeed a judge. The message which 
I have spoken, that shall judge him in the Last Day, 
because I have never spoken on my own authority, 
but the Father himself who sent me gave me com- 
mandment what to say and what [words] to speak. 
And I know that his commandment is eternal life. 
So whatever I speak, I speak as the Father has 
told me.” 


XII 


THE LAST NIGHT IN THE UPPER ROOM 


Jesus Girds a Towel About Himself 


Now just before the feast of the Passover, J esus, 
knowing that his hour was come when he should 
leave this world to go to the Father, having loved 
his own who were in the world, showed forth his 
love to the end. So while supper was proceeding, 
and the devil had already put it into the heart of 
Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him, 
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given every- 
thing into his hands, and that he was come from 
God, and was now going to God, rose from supper, 
laid aside his upper garments, and took a towel and 
girded himself. Then he poured water into the 


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basin, and began to wash the feet of his disciples 
and to wipe them with the towel with which he had 
girded himself. 

Then he came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 

“Tord, are you going to wash my feet?” 

Jesus answered him, 

“ What I am doing you do not understand now, 
but you will understand it later.” 

Peter answered, “No, never shall you wash my 
feet.” 

“Tf I do not wash you,” said Jesus, “ you have no 
part in me.’ 

“ Lord,” said Simon Peter, “ not my suet only, but 
also my hands and my head.” 

Jesus said: 

“He who has bathed needs only to have his feet 
washed, and he is altogether clean; and you are 
clean, but not all of you.” (For he knew who should 
betray him, for that reason he said that they were 
not every one of them clean.) 

So after he had washed their feet, and had put on 
his upper garments again, and taken his place, he 
said to them: 


A Lesson in True Humility 


“Do you understand what I have been doing to 
you? You call me ‘ Teacher’ and ‘ Master,’ and you 
say well, for such I am. If then I have washed 
your feet, I the ‘Master’ and the ‘ Teacher,’ you 
also ought to wash one another’s feet, for I have 
given you an example, that you also should do what 
I have done to you. In solemn truth I tell you 
that a slave is not greater than his master, neither 
is a messenger greater than the one who sends him. 
If you know these things, happy are you if you do 
them. I do not speak concerning all of you. Il 
know whom I have chosen, but it is that the Scrip- 
ture may be fulfilled, which says: 

“ He who eats my bread 
Has lifted up his heel against me.* 


1Pps, 41: 9. 


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20 


JOHN 13 


“From this time forward, I tell you before it 
comes to pass, that when it is come to pass you may 
believe who Iam. In solemn truth I tell you, he who 


- receives any one that I send is receiving me; and 


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he who receives me is receiving Him who sent me.” 


The Traitor Pointed Out 


When he had spoken thus, Jesus was deeply 
moved. He testified and said, 

“In solemn truth I tell you that one of you will 
betray me.” 

Then the disciples began looking at one another, 
wondering which one of them he meant. There 
was reclining upon Jesus’ breast one of the disciples 
whom he loved. So Simon Peter beckoned to him, 
saying, 

* Ask who it is about whom he is speaking.” 

So that disciple just leaned back against Jesus’ 
breast, and said to him, 

“Lord, who is it?” 

“It is that one,’ answered Jesus, “to whom I 
am going to give a piece of bread, after dipping it.” 

So when he had dipped the bread, he took it and 
gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. And after 
he had received the piece of bread, Satan entered 
into him. 

“ What you do, do quickly,” said Jesus. 

Now no one at the table understood why he said 
this to him, for some were thinking, as Judas kept 
the purse, that Jesus meant to tell him, “ Buy the 
things that we need for the feast,” or that he 
should give something to the poor. When he had 
taken the piece of bread, Judas went out imme- 
diately; and it was night. 


The New Law of Love 


So when he was gone, Jesus said: 

“Now has the Son of man been glorified, and 
God has been glorified in him. If God has been 
glorified in him, God will also glorify him in him- 
self, and straightway will he glorify him. 

“My little children, I am only to be with you a 


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little longer. You will seek me; just as I said to 
the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now 
I say to you. I give you a new commandment, 
Love one another! By this shall all men know that 
you are my disciples, if you have love one for 
another.” 


Simon Peter’s Denial Predicted 


Simon Peter asked him, “ Lord, where are you 
going? ”’ 

“Where I am going,” answered Jesus, “ you can- 
not follow me now; but you shall follow me later.” 

“Why cannot I follow you now, Master?” said 
Peter. “I will lay down my life for you.” 

Jesus answered him: 

“ Your life you will lay down for me? In solemn 
truth I tell you, the cock shall not crow before you 
have three times disowned me.” 


XIV 


THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE 


The Father’s House with Many Rooms 


“Let not your hearts be troubled. You trust in 
God, trust in me also. In my Father’s house there 
are many rooms. If it were not so, I should have 
told you, for I am going to prepare a place for you. 
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will 
return and will take you to be with me, so that 
where I am you may be also. And the way is 
known to you all, where I am going.” 

“We do not know where you are going, Lord,” 
said Thomas, “so how can we know the way? ” 


I Am the Way 

Jesus answered him: 

“Tam the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man. 
ever comes to the Father but by me. If you had 
known me, you would have known my Father too; 
from now on you know him and have seen him.” 


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“Lord,” said Philip, “ cause us to see the Father, 
and we shall be satisfied.” 


My Father and I 


“Have I been so long among you, and yet you, 
Philip, have you not recognized me? He who has 
seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 
‘Cause us to see the Father’? Do you not believe 
that Iam in the Father and the Father inme? The 
words that I speak to you I speak not of myself; but 
the Father, who ever dwells in me, is doing his own 
work. Believe me, all of you, that I am in the 
Father and the Father in me, or else believe me for 
the very works’ sake. 

“T tell you solemnly that he who trusts in me 


shall himself do the works that I am doing; and 


still greater works than these, because I am going 
to my Father. And whatever you ask in my name 
I will do; that the Father may be glorified in the 
Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. 


The Holy Spirit Promised 


“Tf you love me, you will obey my command- 
ments, and I will pray the Father, and he will give 
you another Comforter to be with you forever, the 
Spirit of Truth. The world cannot receive him be- 
cause it does not see him nor know him, but you 
know him, for he is ever with you and within you. 
I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you. 
Yet a little while and the world shall see me no 
more, but you shall see me; because I live, you, too, 
Shall live. At that day you shall understand that 
I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 
It is he who has my commands and obeys them that 
loves me; and he who loves me shall be loved by 
my Father, and I will love him and will manifest 
myself to him.” 


Obedience, the Eye of the Soul 


“How is it, Lord,” said Judas (not Iscariot), 
“that you will manifest yourself to us and not to 
the world?” 


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Jesus replied: 

“Tf any one loves me he will obey my word, and 
my Father will love him, and we will come to him 
and make our home with him. He that loves me 
not does not obey my words, and yet the words to 
which you are listening are not mine, but the 
Father’s who sent me. 


The Holy Spirit to Guide Us 


“All this have I told you while still with you. 
But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the 
Father will send in my name, will teach you every- 
thing, and bring to your remembrance everything 
that I have told you. Peace I leave with you. My 
own peace I give to you. It is not the world’s 
‘Peace’ I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, 
neither let it be afraid. 


Going to the Father 


“You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away, and 
yet I am coming to you.’ If you loved me you 
would have been glad because I said ‘I am going 
to the Father,’ for my Father is greater than I. 
And now I tell you this before it happens, so that 
when it does happen you may believe. I shall not 
talk with you much more, for the Prince of this 
world is coming. He has nothing in me, but in his 
coming the world may know that I love the Father, 
and that I do just as the Father commanded, 
Rise, let us be going! ” 


XV 


THE TRUE LIFE IN CHRIST 


The Vine and Its Branches 

““T am the true Vine, and my Father is the Vine- 
grower. He cuts back any of my branches that 
bear no fruit, and prunes every fruit-bearing branch, 
that it may bear more. Now you are clean through 
the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in 


289 


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11 
12 


18 


14 
15 


16 


17 
18 
19 


JOHN 15 


me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear 
fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more 
can you, unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, 
you are the branches. He who abides in me and I 
in him, bears abundant fruit; because apart from 
me you can do nothing. If any one does not abide 
in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers. 
Such branches are gathered up and thrown into the 
fire and burned. 


Abiding, the Secret of Prevailing Prayer 


“Tf you abide in me and my words abide in you, 
ask whatever your will is, and it shall be yours. 
By this is my Father glorified, by your bearing 
abundant fruit, and so being my disciples. As the 
Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in 
my love. If you obey my ¢ommands you will abide 
in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s 
commands and abide in his love. 


Joy, the Fruit of Obedience 


“T have told you these things that my joy might 
remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 
This is my command, Love one another as I have 
loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a 
man lay down his life for his friends. 


No Longer Slaves, but Friends 


“You are my friends if you do what I command 
you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave 
does not know what his master is doing; but I have 
called you friends, because I have made known to 
you everything that I have learned from my Father. 
You did not choose me, but I chose you and ap- 
pointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and 
that your fruit should remain; so that whatever 
you ask the Father in my name, he may give it you. 


My Command, Love 


“This is my command: to love one another. If 
the world hates you, do not forget that it hated me 
first. If you belonged to the world, the world would 


290 


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21 


22 
23 
24 


25 


26 


27 


JOHN 16 


love its own; but because you do not belong to the 
world, but I have chosen you out of the world, for 
that reason the world hates you. Remember what 
I told you, ‘A slave is not better than his master.’ 
If they persecuted me, they will persecute you. If 
they have obeyed my word, they will obey yours 
also. But they will do all these things to you for 
my name’s sake, because they know not Him who 
sent me. 


Sinning Against Light 

“If I had not come and spoken to them, they 
would have had no sin; but now they have no excuse 
for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father 
also. If I had not done among them such works 
as none other ever did, they would have had no 
sin; but now they have both seen and hated both 
me and my Father. And so is fulfilled the word 
written in their Law, ‘They hated me without 
cause.’ * 


The Witness of the Spirit 


“When the Comforter is come whom I will send 
to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who 
comes forth from the Father, he will bear witness 
of me; and you too shall bear witness because you 
have been with me from the first. 


HP S50 09 169) 224. 
XVI 
THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR GUIDE 


Persecution to Be Their Portion 


“T have told you all this so that you may not 
stumble. They will excommunicate you from their 
Synagogues; indeed the time is coming when any 
one who kills you will suppose that he is doing God’s 
service. And they will do these things because they 
have not known my Father, nor me. But I have 
told you these things, that when the time for them 


291 


JOHN 16 


comes you may remember that I told you about 
them, myself. I did not, however, speak of these 
5 things at first, because I was with you. But now I 
go my way to Him who sent me, yet none of you asks 
6 me, ‘ Where are you going?’ but sorrow has filled 
your hearts because I have told you these things. 


The Holy Spirit to Be Given 


7 “Yet—I am telling you the truth—my going is 
for your good. For unless I go away the Comforter 
will not. come to you; but if I depart I will send him 

~8 unto you. And he, when he comes, will convict the 
world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment; 

9,10 of sin, because they do not believe in me; of right- 
eousness, because 1 am going to my Father, and you 

11 will no longer see me; and of judgment, because the 
Prince of this world has been judged. 


The Spirit to Guide into Truth 


12 “TI have yet many things to say to you, but you 

13 cannot bear them just now. But when he is come, 
that Spirit of Truth, he will guide you into the whole 
truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, 
but all that he hears he will speak, and will make 

14 known to you that which is to come. He will glorify 
me; for he will take of what is mine and will make 

15 it known to you. Everything that the Father has 
is mine; that is why I said that he will take of what 
is mine and will make it known to you. 

16 “In a little while you shall behold me no more; 
and again in a little while you shall see me, because 
I am going to the Father.” 

17 At this some of his disciples said among them- 
selves: 

“What does he mean by telling us, ‘In a little 
while you shall behold me no more; and again in a 
little while you shall see me,’ and ‘ Because I am go- 
ing to the Father’? ” 

18 So they kept asking: 

“What does that ‘little while’ mean of which 
he speaks?) We do not know what he is talking 
about.” 


292 


Sag 


20 


21 


22 


23 


24 


25 


26 
27 


28 


29 
30 


JOHN 16 


Brief Sorrow; Eternal Joy 


Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, and 
said: 

“ Are you questioning one another about my say- 
ing, ‘ A little while and you shall behold me no more, 
and again a little while and you shall see me’? 
I tell you solemnly that you will be weeping and 
wailing while the world is rejoicing; you will be 
grief-stricken, but your grief shall be turned into 
gladness. A woman in labor has grief because her 
hour is come; but when she has given birth to 
the babe she no longer remembers her anguish, 
because of joy that a child has been born into 
the world. So you also have sorrow now, but 
I will see you again and your heart will rejoice,’ 
and your joy shall no man snatch away from 
you. And in that day you will ask me no 
questions. — 


Prayer in Christ’s Name 


“Most solemnly I tell you that whatever you ask 
the Father in my name, he will give you. Hitherto 
you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you 
shall receive, that your joy may be full. 

“T have told you these things in figures; but the 
time is coming when I shall no longer speak in 
figures, but will tell you about the Father in plain 
worus. In that day you shall pray in my name; 
and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father on 
your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, be- 
cause you have loved me and have believed that 
I came forth from God. I came forth from 
the Father, and am come into the world: again, 
I am leaving the world, and am going to the 
Father.” 

“ Ah,” said the disciples, “now you are speaking 
plain language, and not using figures. Now we are 
sure that you know all things, and have no need 
for any one to question you; by this we believe that 
you came forth from God.” 


1TIsa. 66: 14. 
293 


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39 


1 


6 


9 


10 
11 


JOHN 17 


Concluding Words 


32 ‘ Do you now believe?” said Jesus; “ behold the 
hour approaches and is already come when you will 
be scattered, each man to his home, and will leave 
me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the 
Father is with me. I have said all this to you that 
in me you might have peace. In the world you will 
have tribulation, but be courageous; I have over- 
come the world.” 


XVII 
CHRIST’S HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER 


Christ Prays for Himself 


When he had thus spoken, Jesus raised his eyes 
to heaven and said: 

“ Father, the hour is come. Glorify thy Son, that 
thy Son may glorify thee; since thou hast given him 
authority over all mankind, to give eternal life to all 
whom thou hast given him. And this is eternal 
life, to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus 
Christ whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee 
on the earth; I have finished the work which thou 
gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou 
me with thine own self, with the glory I had with 
thee before the world began. 


Christ Prays for the Disciples 


“T have made known thy name to the men whom 
thou gavest me out of the world. Thine they were, 
and thou gavest them to me, and they have kept 
thy word. They know now that whatever thou hast 
given me was from thee; for I have given them the 
words which thou gavest me; and they have received 
them, and they have believed that thou didst send 
me. 

“TI am praying for them; I am not praying for 
the world, but for those whom thou hast given me; 
for they are thine, and all thine are mine, and 
mine are thine; and I am glorified in them. I am 


294 


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20 
21 


22 


23 


24 


25 


JOHN 17 


now no.longer in the world, but these are in the 
world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep 
through thine own Name these whom thou hast 
given me, that they may be one as we are one. 
While I was with them I ever kept them by the power 
of thy name which thou hast given me. I guarded 
them, and none of them was lost except the son of 
perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 


In the World, but Kept from the Evil One 


“ But now I am coming to thee, and I am speak- 
ing these things while I am in the world, so that 
they may have my joy in all its fulness in them- 
selves. I have given them thy word; and the world 
has hated them because they are not of the world, 
even as I am not of the world. I am not asking 
that thou wilt take them out of the world, but that 
thou wilt protect them from the Evil One. They 
are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 
Dedicate them in thy truth; thy word is truth. 
As thou hast sent me into the world, even so I also 
have sent them into the world. And for their sakes 
I dedicate myself, that they also may be thoroughly 
dedicated in the truth. 


Christ Prays for All His Followers 


“Nor do I pray for them alone, but for those also 
who believe in me through their word, that they 
may all be one, even as thou, Father, art in me and 
I in thee; that they also may be in us; in order that 
the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And 
the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; 
that they may be one even as we are one, I in them 
and thou in me; that they may be made perfectly 
one, so that the world may recognize that thou didst 
send me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me. 

“ Father, it is my will that wherever I am these 
also, thy gift to me, may be with me, that they may 
see the glory, my glory which thou hast given me, 
because thou didst love me before the foundation 
of the world. O righteous Father, though the world 
knew thee not, I have known thee, and these have 


295 


26 


1 


10 
11 


JOHN 18 


known that thou didst send me. And I have de- 
clared—and will declare—thy name unto them, that 
the love with which thou hast loved me may be in 
them, and that I may be in them.” 


XVIII 
THE BETRAYAL AND TRIAL OF JESUS 


The Betrayal Comes 


After he had spoken these words Jesus went forth 
with his disciples to a place across the Ravine of 
the Cedars, where there was a garden into which he 
and his disciples went. Judas the Traitor also knew 
this place; for Jesus and his disciples had often 
met there. So after getting troops and some Temple 
police from the chief priests and Pharisees, Judas 
came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 
Then Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon him, 
went forth to meet them, and asked them, 

“Who is it that you are looking for? ” 

“For Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. 

He said to them, “I am he.” 

(Now Judas also, the betrayer, was standing with | 
them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew 
back and fell to the ground; so he asked them 
once more, “ Whom are you looking for? ” and they 
replied, “ Jesus of Nazareth.” 

“T have already told you that I am he,” said 
Jesus. “If, then, you are looking for me, let these 
go their way.” (In order that the word which he 
had spoken might be fulfilled, “ Of those whom thou 
hast given me I have not lost one.”’) 


Peter Takes the Sword 


Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, and 
striking at the high priest’s slave, cut off his right 
ear. (The slave’s name was Malchus.) Then Jesus 
said to Peter: 

“Put up your sword in its sheath. The cup which 
my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?” 


296 


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13 


14 


15 


16 


17 


18 


19 
20 


21 


23 


_ JOHN 18 


Christ Taken to Annas 


So the troops and their commandant and the 
Jewish police took Jesus, and bound him, and led 
him to Annas first. (For Annas was the father-in- 
law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year— 
the Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was 
for their advantage that one man should die for the 


people.) 


Peter in the Courtyard 


Meanwhile Simon Peter was following Jesus, 
and so was another disciple who was known to the 
high priest, and they went in with Jesus into the 
court of the high priest’s palace. But Peter took his 
stand outside, near the door. So the other disciple 
who was known to the high priest came out and 
spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. The 
doorkeeper (a maid servant) then said to Peter, 

“ Are not you also one of this man’s disciples? ” 

“No, I am not,’ he answered. 

Now the slaves and the attendants were stand- 
ing and warming themselves about a charcoal fire, 
which they had made because it was cold; and 
Peter also stood with them, and was warming him- 
self. 


Jesus Before the High Priest 


Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his 
disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered 
him: 

‘“‘T have spoken to all the world openly. I always 
taught in a synagogue and in the temple, places 
where all the Jews are wont to assemble, and in 
secret I have spoken nothing. Why do you ques- 
tion me? Ask those who heard what I have said 
to them; these witnesses here know what I said.” 

When he had spoken these words, one of the 
police standing by gave him a blow with his hand, 
saying as he did so, 

“Ts that the way you answer the high priest?’ 

Jesus replied: ; 


297 


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25 


26 


27 


28 


29 


30 


31 
32 


33 


o4 


JOHN 18 


“If I have said anything wrong, give evidence 
concerning the wrong; but if I said what was true, 
why do you strike me?” 

Then Annas sent him in chains to Caiaphas, the 
high priest. 


Peter’s Denial 


Now Simon Peter was standing and warming 
himself. They said therefore to him, “ You are not 
also one of his disciples, are you? ” 

He denied it, saying, “I am not.” 

One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative 
of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “ Did 
not I myself see you with him in the garden.” 

Peter again denied it; and at that very moment 
a cock crew. 


Jesus Goes to the Roman Governor 


From the house of Caiaphas they took Jesus to 
the Pretorium, and it was dawn. They themselves 
would not enter the Pretorium, in order that they 
might not be ceremonially defiled, but might be 
able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came outside to 
them and asked, 

“What charge do you bring against this man?” 

In reply they said, 

“If he had not been a criminal, we should not 
have handed him over to you.” 

“Take him yourselves,” answered Pilate, “and 
judge him according to your law.” 

The Jews answered him, “We are not allowed 
to put any one to death” (that the word of Jesus 
might be fulfilled in which he predicted the kind of 
death he was to die). 


Pilate Questions Jesus 


So Pilate went into the Pretorium again, and 
summoned Jesus. 

“Are you the King of the Jews?” he said. 

Jesus answered, 

“Are you saying this of your own accord, or did 
others say it to you about me?” 


298 


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a6 


BT 


38 


39 


40 


1) 
2 


3 


JOHN 19 


“T am not a Jew, am I?” replied Pilate; “It is 
your own nation and the high priests who have 
handed you over to me. What have you done?” 

Jesus answered him: 

“My kingdom is not of this world. If my king- 
dom were of this world, then would my servants 
have fought hard that I should not be handed over 
to the Jews; but in reality my kingdom is not of 
such origin.” © 


The King of Truth 


“You are a king, then? You!” said Pilate. 

“You say truly that I am a king,” answered 
Jesus, “for this purpose was I born, and to this 
end came I into the world, that I should bear wit- 
ness to the truth. Every man who is of the truth 
listens to my voice.” 

Pilate said to him, “ What is truth? ” 

As he said this, he went outside again to the Jews 
and said to them: 

“T find no crime in this man. Now it is a custom 
of yours that I release one prisoner to you at the 
time of the Passover feast. Do you wish me to 
release to you the King of the Jews?” 

Then they all shouted again: 

“ No, not him! Barabbas! ” 

Now Barabbas was a robber. 


XIX 
JESUS IS CRUCIFIED, DEAD AND BURIED 


Jesus Scourged and Mocked 


After that Pilate took Jesus and had him 
scourged; and the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, 
placed it on his head, and threw a purple cloak 
about him, and kept marching up to him, saying, 

“ Hail! King of the Jews! ” 

They also gave him blow after blow with their 
hands. 


299 


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11 


12 


13 


14 


JOHN 19 


* Ecce Homo—Behold the Man” 


Pilate again came forth and said to the people, 

“See, I am going to bring him out to you, that 
you may clearly know that I find no crime in him.” 

Then as Jesus came out, wearing the crown of 
thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, 

“ BEHOLD, THE MAN! ” 

So when the chief priests and the police saw him, 
they shouted: 

“ Crucify him! Crucify him! ” 

“Take him yourselves and crucify him,” said 
Pilate, “for I find no crime in him.” 

The Jews answered him, 

“We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, 
because he made himself out to be God’s Son.” 


Pilate Yields to the Mob 


Now when Pilate heard these words he was more 
alarmed than ever, and entering the Pretorium 
again, he said to Jesus, 

“What is your origin?” 

Jesus made no answer. So Pilate said to him: 

“Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that 
I have power to release you, or power to crucify 
you? ” | 

“You would have no power over me,” answered 
Jesus, “unless it had been given you from above. 
For this reason he who has betrayed me to you has 
the greater sin.” 

After that Pilate began to seek to release him, 
but the Jews shouted out: 

“Tf you release this man you are no friend of 
the Emperor. Any man who makes himself out a 
king is a rebel against the Emperor.” 


The Death Sentence 

On hearing what they said, Pilate brought Jesus 
out and made him sit on the judge’s seat in a place 
called the Mosaic Pavement (the Hebrew name is 
Gabbatha). And it was the day of Preparation for 
the Passover, about six o’clock in the morning. 


300 


JOHN 19 


Then he said to the Jews, 
‘Behold your King! ” 
15 Then they shouted: 
“ Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him! i 
“ Crucify your King? ” said Pilate. 
The chief priests answered, 
“We have no king but Cesar!” 
16 So then he gave him over to them to be crucified. 


Jesus Goes Forth, Bearing His Cross 


iT So they took Jesus, who went forth bearing his 
own cross, to a place called The Place of a Skull—in 

18 the Hebrew tongue, Golgotha. There they cruci- 
fied him; and with him two others, one on either 

19 side, and Jesus between them. And Pilate moreover 
wrote an inscription and placed it above the cross. 
What he wrote was, 


“‘ JESUS, THE NAZARENE, KING OF THE JEWS ts 


290 This inscription was read by many of the Jews, 
because the place where they crucified Jesus was 
near the city, and the inscription was written in 

21 Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the high priests of 
the Jews said to Pilate, 

“Do not write ‘King of the Jews,’ but ‘ He said, 
I am King of the Jews.’ ” 
22 ~=sw Pilate answered, : 
“ What I have written, I have written! ” 


The Soldiers Gamble for His Clothes 


23 After the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took 
his garments and divided them into four parts, to 
each soldier a part, and the tunic. Now the tunic 
was seamless, woven in one piece from top to 

24 bottom; so the soldiers said one to another: 

“Tet us not tear it. Let us draw lots, to see 
whose it shall be’”’—that the Scripture might be 
fulfilled: 

They divided my garments among them, 
For my raiment did they cast lots.’ 
This was vhat the soldiers did. 


Pango": 18) 
301 


JOHN 19 


“ Behold, Thy Mother ” 


25 Now there stood near the cross of Jesus, his 
mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of 
26 Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his 
mother, and standing near her the disciple whom he 
loved, he said to his mother, 
“Woman, behold your son.” 
27 Then he said to the disciple, 
“ Behold your mother.” 
And from that hour the disciple took her to his 
home. | 
28 After that, when Jesus knew that everything 
was now accomplished, he said in fulfilment of the 
words of Scripture, 
“TI am thirsty.’ ? 


Jesus Dies 


29 There was a jar full of vinegar standing there; 
and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put 
it upon a stalk of hyssop, and put it to his 

30 lips. Then after he had taken the vinegar, Jesus 
said, 

“IT IS FINISHED! ” 
And bowing his head, he yielded up his spirit. 


His Body Pierced 


381 It was the Preparation Day, so in order to pre- 
vent the bodies’ hanging on the cross during the 
Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a great day) the 
Jews begged Pilate to have the legs broken, and the 
bodies taken away. : 

32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the 
first man and of the other who had been crucified 

33 with him. But upon coming to Jesus they saw that 
he was already dead, and did not break his legs. 

34 One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with 
a lance, and immediately blood and water flowed 

380 out. And he who saw it has borne testimony, and 
his testimony is trustworthy, and he knows that he 


PE SE GO ne 21) 
302 


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ots 


38 


JOHN 20 


is telling the truth in order that you also may be- 
lieve. For this happened that the Scripture might 
be fulfilled, \ 
Not one of his bones shall be broken.® 

And again another Scripture says, 

They shall look on him whom they have pierced.’ 


Joseph and Nicodemus Bury Jesus 


After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who 


. was a disciple of Jesus, but in secret because of 


39 


AQ 


41 


42 


1 


fear of the Jews, asked Pilate for permission to take 
the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So 
he came and took the body. Nicodemus also (the 
one who visited Jesus by night, at first) came bring- 
ing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing nearly 
a hundred pounds. So they took the body of Jesus 
and wound it in linen with the spices, according to 
the Jewish mode of burial. There was a garden 
near the place where Jesus had been crucified, and 
in the garden a new tomb in which no one had ever 
been laid. Here, because of its being Preparation 
Day, and as the tomb was near by, they placed 
Jesus. 


3Ps. 384 : 20; Hxod. 12): 46. 
4Zech. 12 : 10. 


XX 


THE EMPTY TOMB: THE RESURRECTION 
LIFE 


The Empty Tomb 


On the first day of the week, very early in the 
morning, while it was yet dark, Mary Magdalene 
came to the tomb and discovered that the stone had 
been removed from the tomb. So she came running 
to Simon Peter and that other disciple whom Jesus 
loved, saying, 

“They have taken the Master out of the tomb, 
and we do not know where they have laid him! ” 


303 


JOHN 20 


Peter and John Run Together 


9 


3 So Peter and the other disciple set out at once to 

4 go to the tomb. They both began to run; and the 

other disciple ran faster than Peter, and came first 

5 to the tomb. Stooping down he glanced in and saw 

the linen wrappings lying on the ground; but he 

6 did not goin. Then Peter also came following him, 

and he went inside the tomb; and he gazed at the 

7 linen wrappings as they lay, and the napkin which 

had been about his head not lying with the wrap- 

8 pings, but rolled up in its own place. Then the 

other disciple also who arrived first at the tomb, 

9 went inside, and he perceived and believed. For not 

yet had they understood the Scripture, that he must 

10 rise again from among the dead. Then the dis- 
ciples went back again to their home. 


Mary at the Tomb 


11 Meanwhile, outside, Mary stood sobbing near the 
tomb. Still sobbing she stooped and looked into the 
12 tomb, and gazed at two angels in glistening white 
sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, 
13 where the body of Jesus had lain. They said to her, 
“Woman, why are you weeping? ” 
She answered, 
“ Because they have taken away my Master, and 
I do not know where they have laid him.” 


Mary Sees Jesus 


14. When she had said this she turned around and 
saw Jesus standirg there, but did not know that it 
was Jesus. 

15 Jesus said to her: 

“Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are 
you seeking? ” 

She, supposing that he was the gardener, said to 
him, 

“ Sir, if you have borne him away, tell me where 
you have put him, and I will take him away, myself.” 

16 “Mary,” said Jesus. 


1Ps. 16 :, 10. 
304 


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18 


19 


20 
21 


22 
23 


24 
25 


26 


JOHN 20 


She turned to him. “ Rabboni!” she cried in 
Hebrew. That is to say, ‘ Teacher.” 

“Cease clinging to me,” said Jesus, “for I am not 
yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers 
and say to them, 

“<T am ascending to my Father and your Father, 
to my God and your God.’ ” 

Away went Mary Magdalene to the disciples with 
the tidings, 

“T have seen the Master! ” 
and that he had said these things to her. 


First Appearance to the Disciples 


On the evening of that same day, the first day of 
the week, although the doors of the room where the 
disciples were gathered had been locked for fear of 
the Jews, Jesus came, and there he stood among 
them, saying, 

“Peace to you! ” 

As he said this he showed them his hands and 
his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they 
saw the Lord. Then Jesus said to them again: 

“Peace to you. As my Father has sent me forth, 
I also now am sending you.” 

When he had said this he breathed upon them and 
said: 

“Receive the Holy Spirit. If you remit any 
one’s sins, they are remitted; if you retain them, 
they are retained.” 


Thomas Meets His Lord 


But Thomas, one of the Twelve, who was called 
“The Twin,” was not. with them when Jesus came. 
Accordingly the other disciples kept telling him, 

“We have seen the Lord.” 

But he told them, 

“ Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, 
and thrust my finger into the print of the nails, 
and thrust my hand into his side, I will not be- 
lieve it.” 

A week later his disciples were again in the 
house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, 


305 


27 


28 
29 


30 
dl 


5 


JOHN 21 


although the doors were locked, and stood there 
among them and said, 

“Peace to you! ” 

Then to Thomas he said: 

“Place your finger here, and see my hands; and 
place your hand here, and thrust it into my side, 
and become not unbelieving, but believing.” 

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God! ” 

“ Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have 
believed,” Jesus told him. “ Blessed are those who, 
without seeing, yet believed.” 


Object of John’s Gospel 


There were then many other signs which Jesus 
performed in the presence of his disciples, which 
have not been written in this book; but these have 
been written that you may believe that Jesus is 
the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing 
you may hove life in his name. 


XXI 


AN APPENDIX: INCIDENTS OF THE RISEN 
LIFE 


Jesus Appears at the Sea of Galilee 


After this Jesus showed himself again to his dis- 
ciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He showed himself 
as follows: There were together Simon Peter and 
Thomas, called “ The Twin,” and Nathanael, from 
Cana of Galilee, and the two sons of Zebedee, and 
two others of his disciples. 

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” 

They answered him, “ And we are going with 
you.’ 

So they went out and got into the boat, and 
throughout that night they caught nothing. But 
when day was dawning Jesus stood on the beach. 
The disciples, however, did not recognize that it was 
Jesus. So Jesus said to them, 

““ Lads, you haven’t any fish, have you? ” 


306 


6 


15 


16 


- JOHN 21 


They answered him, “ No.” 

And he said to them, “ Cast your net on the right 
side of the boat, and you will find.’ 

So they cast it, and now they could not haul it in 
for the multitude of fishes. Then that disciple 
whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 

“Tt is the Lord! ” 


Breakfast on the Beach 


On hearing that it was the Lord, Simon Peter girt 
his fisher’s coat about him (for he was naked), and 
threw himself into the water. The rest of the 
disciples came in the boat, for they were not far 
from shore—only about a hundred yards—dragging 
in the net full of fish. When they got to the shore 
they beheld a charcoal fire ready laid, with fish on 
it, and some bread. 

“ Bring some of the fish you have just caught,” 
Jesus told them. 

So Simon Peter went and dragged the net to 
shore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of 
them; but for all this number the net was not torn. 

“Come and have breakfast,” said Jesus to them. 

Not one of the disciples dared ask him, “ Who 
are you?” knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus 
went and took the bread and gave it to them, and 
the fish also. This was the third time that Jesus 
showed himself to the disciples after he had risen 
from among the dead. 


Peter Tested by Jesus 


When they were through breakfast, Jesus said to 
Simon Peter, 

“ Simon, son of John, do you love me more than 
these others do?” 

“ Yes, Lord, you’ know that you are dear to me,” 
he answered. . 

Jesus said to him, “ Feed my lambs.” 

He said to him again a second time, 

“Simon, son of John, do you love me? ” 

He answered, “ Yes, Lord, you know that you are 
dear to me.” 


207 


17 


18 


19 


20 


21 


22 


23 


24 


25 


JOHN 21 


“Be a shepherd to my sheep,” said Jesus. 

The third time Jesus asked him, 

“ Am I really dear to you? ” 

Peter was grieved because the third time he asked, 
“Am I really dear to you?” and he answered, 

“Master, you know all things, you know that you 
are dear to me.” 

“Feed my sheep,” said Jesus. “In solemn truth 
I tell you that when you were young, you used to put 
on your own girdle, and walk wherever you wished; 
but when you grow old you will stretch out your 
hands for some one to gird you, and carry you where 
you do not wish to go.” 

This he said to show by what kind of death Peter 
was to glorify God. After speaking thus, he said 
to him, “ Follow me.” 


John and Christ’s Return 


Peter turned around and saw that the disciple 
whom Jesus loved was following—he who at the 
supper leaned back upon his breast and said, “ Lord, 
who is to betray you?” On catching sight of him, 
Peter said to Jesus, 

* Lord, what about him?” 

“Tf I choose that he remain until I come,” said 
Jesus, “ what is that to you? Do you follow me.” 

Accordingly the report spread among the brothers 
that this disciple should not die; but Jesus did not 
say that he was not to die, but said, “If I choose 
that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” 


An Eye-witness’s Testimony 


It is this disciple who bears testimony to these 
facts and who recorded them; and we know that 
his testimony is true. But there are also many 
other things which Jesus did; if every one of them 
were to be recorded in detail I suppose that even 
the world itself could not centain the books that 
would have to be written. 


308 


a ae 


Ly ‘SPIR iT 


1 Fe 4 


MPT, i Se ID a 
a* es ad y 


rime 


Cie aa Pe 2s 
a Sa any h 





* 


Date: Probably about A. D. 64. 


Author: St. Luke, a Greek physician, faithful friend 
and companion of St. Paul, who accom- 
panied Paul from Troas to Philippi, was 
with him during his imprisonment at 
Cesarea, and at Rome was his sole, faith- 
ful companion; “ Only Luke is with me.” 

Luke is a historian of the first rank. 


Aim: To write the story of the formation and early 
days of the Christian church, tracing the 
steps by which it grew and advanced— 
broadening to include the Gentiles, widen- 
ing from Jerusalem to Rome. In all he 
tells he aims to show how, under the 
guidance of the Holy Spirit, the witnessing 
of the disciples was made effective in open- 
ing fresh fields for the gospel. The Acts 
of the Apostles might well be called “ The 
Acts of the Holy Spirit.” 


Division: Chapters one to seven concern the church at 
Jerusalem, with Peter as the chief actor; 
chapters eight to twelve, the witnessing 
church in Judea and Samaria, with Philip 
prominent; chapters thirteen to twenty- 
eight concern the witnessing to the utter- 
most parts of the earth, with Paul as chief 
speaker and worker. 


ACTS 


I 
THE ASCENSION, AND CHOICE OF MATTHIAS 


Dedication and Introduction 


1 My first account, O Theophiti’ dealt with all 
that Jesus began doing and teaching from the be- 

2 ginning down to the day when, after giving instruc- 
tions through the Spirit to the apostles whom he 

3 had chosen, he was taken up to heaven. After his 
sufferings he had also shown himself alive to them 
in many convincing manifestations, revealing him- 
self to them during forty days, and speaking of the 
kingdom of God. 


A World-wide Witnessing 
4 And once when he was eating with them he 
charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to 
wait for the promise of the Father. 
“Of this,” he said, “you have heard from me. 
5 For John indeed baptized in water, but you shall be 
baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence.” 
6 So, when they came together, they began to ask 
him, “ Master, are you at this time about to restore 
7 the kingdom of Israel?’’ He answered: 
“It is not for you to know times and occasions 
which the Father has fixed in his own authority; 
8 yet you will receive power when the Holy Spirit 
comes upon you, and you are to be my witnesses 
both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, 
and to the very ends of the earth: fe 


The Ascension 


9 When he had said this, and while they were look- 
ing at him, he was lifted up, and a cloud received 
10 him up out of their sight. While they were gazing 


Sil 


ACTS: 1 


into the sky as he was going up, suddenly there 
were two men in white garments standing by them, 
11 and they said: 

‘“Men of Galilee. why do you stand gazing into 
the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up 
from you into the sky will come back in just the 
same way as you have seen him going into the sky.” 

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the moun- 
tain called Olivet, which ‘is near Jerusalem, about 
a Sabbath Day’s journey distant. 


In the Upper Room 


13 On entering the city they went to the upper room 
where they were accustomed to meet. They were 
Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and 
Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James, son of 
Alpheus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son 

14 of James. These all with one mind gave their con- 
stant attention to prayer, together with some women, 
and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 


Peter’s Speech 


15 It was during these days that Peter stood up 
among the brothers—the whole number of persons 
present was about one hundred and twenty—and 
said: 

16 “Men and brothers, it was necessary for the 
Scripture to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit 
uttered beforehand by the lips of David in regard 
to Judas who acted as guide to those who arrested 

17 Jesus. For he was numbered among us, and he did 
get his allotted share of this ministry 

20 For it is written in the Book of Psalms, 

Let his dwelling-place be desolate; 

Let no man dwell there,? 
also, Let another take over his work.® 

118 Now this man bought a plot of ground with the price 

of his treachery, and falling there headlong he burst asunder 
and all his bowels gushed out. 19 This fact became known 
to the people of Jerusalem so that the place was called in 
their language, Acheldamach, The Field of Blood. [This is 


det dike an early marginal note which has crept into the 
ext, 


PST 69" 25, PSs LUO hes 
312 


21 


22 


23 
24 


26 


1 
2 


ACTS 2 


“Tt is necessary then that, of the men who have 
been associated with us during the whole time in 
which the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 
from his baptism by John down to the day on which 
he was taken up from us, one should join us as a 
witness to his resurrection.” 


The Lot Falls on Matthias 


So they placed two in nominéz.tion, Joseph called 
Bar-Sabbas (surnamed Justus) and Matthias; and 
they prayed, saying: 

“ Thov, O Lord, who knowest the hearts of all 
men, show clearly which of these two men thou hast 


5 chosen to fill the place in the ministry of this 


apostleship from which Judas went out to go to his 
own place.” 

Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell 
upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the 
eleven apostles. 


Il 
THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 


The Day of Pentecost 


When the day of Pentecost was fully come, and 
they were all together in the same place, there came 
suddenly from the sky a sound like the onrush of 
a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where 
they were sitting. There appeared to them 
tongues, like flame, distributing themselves, one 
resting upon the head of each one, and they were 
all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak 
with other tongues as the Spirit was giving them 
utterance. 

Now there were, staying in Jerusalem, devout 
Jews from many and distant lands. So when this 
noise was heard, the crowd gathered in bewilder- 
ment because each man heard them speaking in his 
own language. They were beside themselves with 
wonder. 


318 


ACTS 2 


Each in His Own Tongue 


“Are not these Galileans who are speaking? ” 

8 they exclaimed. ‘“ Then how is it that each one of 

us hears them speak his own mother tongue? 

9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, dwellers in Mesopo- 

tamia, in Judea, in Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, 

10 in Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the district of 

Lybia around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, Jews and 

11 proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we all hear these 

men telling in our own tongue what great things 
God has done.” 

12 All were astonished and bewildered and kept say- 

13 ing to one another, “ What can this mean?” But 

others were saying with a jeer, “ These men are 

full of sweet wine.” 


Peter’s Address 


14 Then Peter, with the Eleven, stood up and ad- 
dressed them in a loud voice: 
“Men of Judza and dwellers in Jerusalem, have 
no doubt about this matter, but listen to what I say. 
15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose, since: it 
16 is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is 
what the prophet Joel predicted: 
17 “In the last days, God says, it shall come to pass 
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all mankind; 
“Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, 
your young men shall see visions, your old men shall 
18 dream dreams; upon my slaves, both men and 
women, in those days, will I pour out my Spirit, and 
they shall prophesy. 
- 19 In the sky above I will show marvels, 
And signs in the earth beneath; 
Blood and fire, and vapor of smoke. 
20 Into darkness shall the sun be turned, 
And into blood the moon, 
Ere the day of the Lord come, that great and terri- 
ble day. 
21 And every one who calls upon the name of the Lord 
will be saved. 


1 Joel 2 : 28-32. 


22 


23 
24 
25 


26 


27 


28 


29 


30 


31 


32 
30 


34 


30 


ACTS 2 


Peter the Cowardly Becomes Peter the Bold 


“Men of Israel, listen to these words. Jesus the 
Nazarene, a man accredited to you by God, through 
mighty works and wonders and signs which God 
did by him among you, as you yourselves know; 
him, delivered up by the settled purpose and fore- 
knowledge of God, you crucified and killed at the 
hands of lawless men; but God has raised him to 
life, having loosed the pangs of death, because it 
was not possible for death to hold him. For David 
says of him: 

“TI beheld the Lord always before my face; 

For he is at my right hand lest I be shaken. 

Therefore my heart is glad, my tongue exults, 

My very body also shall pitch its tent in hope: 

For thou wilt not leave my soul in Hades, 

Nor give up thy Holy One to see corruption. 

Thou hast made known to me the paths of life, 

Thou wilt fill me with gladness in thy presence.* 


Peter Declares the Resurrection 


“‘Men and brothers, I can speak plainly to you 
concerning the patriarch David, because he not only 
died and was buried, but his tomb is among us even 
to this very day. Because he was a prophet and 
knew that God had sworn to him with an oath that 
of the fruit of his loins he would set one on his 
throne,’ he, foreseeing this, spoke of the resurrection 
of Christ that neither was he left in Hades, nor did 
his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised 
up, of this we are all witnesses. Since he is by 
the mighty hand of God exalted, and has received 
from his Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he 
has poured forth this which you now see and hear. 
For David did not ascend into heaven; but he him- 
self said, 

“The Lord said to my Lord 
Sit thou on my right hand 
Until I make thine enemies 
A footstool under thy feet.’ 


2)Ps,)°16) 28-11. SIP Std Ooi: ele “Pst LIO% 1. 
3815 


ACTS z 


36 “Therefore let the whole House of Israel know 
assuredly that God has made him both Lord and 
Christ, this Jesus whom you have crucified.” 


Three Thousand Are Baptized 


37. When they heard these words they were stung to 
the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the 
apostles: 

“Men and brothers, what shall we do?” 

38. “ Repent,” answered Peter, “and be baptized, 
every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for 
the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the 

09 gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise belongs 
to you and to your children and to all who are afar 
off, whomever the Lord may call.” 

40 With many other words he continued to bear 
testimony, and kept entreating them, saying, “ Save 
yourselves from this perverse generation.” 


Doctrine, Fellowship, Communion, Prayer 


41 Then those who welcomed his message were bap- 
tized, and in that day about three thousand souls 

42 were added to them; and they stedfastly continued 
in the teaching of the apostles, and in the fellow- 
ship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the 
prayers. 


The Dawn of a New Life 


43 _ And awe came upon every soul, and many won- 

44 ders and signs were wrought by the apostles. And 
all the believers were together, and had all thing's in 

45 common. They would sell their lands and other 
property, and distribute the proceeds among all, 

46 just as any one from time to time had need. Day 
after day they continued stedfastly with one accord 
in the Temple; and breaking bread together in their 
own homes, they continued to eat their food with 

47 gladness and an undivided heart, praising God, and 
looked on with favor by all the people. Meanwhile 
the Lord kept adding to them daily those that were 
being saved. 


316 


ACTS 38 


Il 


AT THE BEAUTIFUL GATE 


At the Beautiful Gate 


1 One day Peter and John were going up together 
for the hour of prayer, at three in the afternoon, 

2 when a man lame from his birth was carried along, 
who was wont to be laid each day near the gate 
of the Temple called the Beautiful Gate, to ask alms 

3 of those who were going into the Temple. When 
he saw Peter and John about to go into the Temple, 

4 he kept asking them for alms; Peter fixed his eyes 

5 upon him, as did John, and said, ‘‘ Look at us.” So 
he waited, expecting to get something from them. 
Then Peter said: 

6 ‘J have neither silver nor gold, but what I do 
have, this I am going to give to you; in the name of 
Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, walk! ” 

7 Then taking his right hand he lifted him up. 
Instantly his feet and ankle-bones were strength- 

8 ened; and leaping forth he stood on his feet, and 
began to walk, and went with them into the Temple, 

9 walking, and leaping, and praising God. When 
all the people saw him walking and praising God, 

10 and recognized that this was the man who used to 
sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, 
they were filled with awe and amazement at what 
had happened to him. 


Peter’s Second Sermon 


11 While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the 
people crowded awe-struck around them, in what 

12 was known as Solomon’s Portico. When he saw 
this, Peter said to the people: 


The Gospel of the Resurrection 
“Men of Israel, why are you wondering at this‘ 
Why do you stare at us, as if by our own power or 
13 piety we had made this man to walk? The God of 
Abram, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, 


317 


14 
15 
16 


oe 
18 
3 


20 
21 


22 


23 


24 
25 


26 


ACTS 3 


has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you betrayed 
and disowned before Pilate, when he had decided to 
let him go; but you disowned the holy and righteous 
One, and asked as a favor the release of a mur- 
derer. The Pioneer of Life you put to death. But 
God has raised him from the dead, and we are wit- 
nesses of that fact. And his name, on the ground 
of faith in his name, has made strong this man, 
whom you now see and know; yes, the faith that is 
through him has made this man sound and strong 
again, in the presence of you all. 


Of Christ the Prophets Spoke 


“And now, brothers, I know that you did it in 
ignorance, as did also your rulers. But God has 
thus fulfilled what he foretold by the mouth of all 
the prophets, that his Christ should suffer. Repent 
then! and reform, for the blotting out of your sins, 
so that there may come times of refreshing from the 
presence of the Lord; and that he may send Jesus, 
your appointed Messiah, whom the heavens must re- 
ceive until the time of restoration of all things. 

“God spoke of this ages ago, through the mouth 
of his holy prophets. Moses, for example, said: 

“The Lord your God will raise up a Prophet for 
you from among your brothers, as he has raised up 
me; you must listen to whatever he may tell you; 
and it shall be that every soul who will not listen to 
that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among 
the people." 

“Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and his 
successors, all that have spoken, have also told of 
those days. You are the sons of the prophets, and 
of the covenant which God made with your fathers, 
saying to Abraham, 

“And in thy seed shall all the ibeaiba nsec of the 
earth be blessed.’ 

“It was for you first that God raised up his Ser- 
vant, and sent him to bless you in turning every 
one of you away from your wicked ways.” 


1 Deut. 18 : 15-19; Lev. 23.729. 2 Gen. 72s 786 
318 


1 
2 
3 
4 


5 
6 
7 


8 
“4 


10 


Lt 
12 


ACTS 4 


IV 
THE GLAD DAWN OF THE EARLY CHURCH 


Peter and John Arrested 


While they were addressing the people the priests, 
the commander of the Temple, and the Sadducees 
came upon them, incensed at their teaching the 
people, and proclaiming, in the case of Jesus, the 
resurrection from the dead. They arrested them, 
and put them in prison till the next day, for it 
was already evening. But many of those who had 
heard the message believed, and the number of the 
men came to be about five thousand. 


Their Trial 


There was held in Jerusalem, next morning, a 
meeting of their rulers, the elders and scribes, 
and Annas, the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alex- 
ander, and all the members of the high priest’s 
family were present. Then they made the men 
stand before them and demanded, 

“ By what power, or in what name, have you fel- 
lows done this? ” 


Peter Speaks Boldly 

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered 
them: 

“ Rulers and elders of the people, if we are being 
examined today concerning a benefit conferred upon 
a cripple, as to how this man has been cured, be 
it known to all of you, and to all the people of 
Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ, the Naza- 
rene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from 
the dead, in him does this man stand before you 
strong and well. For he is the Stone, cast aside 
by you builders, which has become the head stone of 
the corner. There is no salvation in any other, for 
there is no other name under heaven given among 
men, in which we must be saved.”’ 


a Pah 118) 7 )22. 
319 


ACTS 4 


They Are Released 

13 Now when they beheld the glad fearlessness of 
Peter and John and had perceived that they were un- 
learned and obscure individuais, they were amazed; 
and they began to recognize them, that they were 

14 companions of Jesus. But since they saw the man 
standing with them who had been healed, they had 

15 nothing to answer. So they bade them withdraw 
from the Sanhedrin, while they conferred together. 


The Pharisees Deliberate 
16 “What,” said they, “ shall we do with these men? 
For it is well known throughout Jerusalem that a 
notable miracle has been performed by them, and 
17 we cannot deny it. But that the matter may spread 
no further among the people, let us threaten them 
not to speak to any one hereafter about this Name.” 


“To Listen to You or to God? ” 


18 So they summoned them, and ordered them not 
to speak at all, nor to teach in the name of Jesus. 

19 But Peter and John said in reply: ; 

“Do you decide whether in the sight of God it 

20 is right to obey you rather than God; but for our 
part, we cannot help speaking about what we have 
seen and heard.” 

21 So when they had further threatened them they 
let the apostles go, being quite unable to find any 
way of punishing them because of the people, for 
everybody was glorifying God over what had hap- 

22 pened. For the man on whom this miracle of heal- 
ing had been wrought was over forty years old. 


The Church on Its Knees 


23 As soon as the apostles were released, they went 
to their friends, and told what the high priests and 
24 elders had said. And when they heard it they all 
lifted up their voices in prayer to God, saying: 
“O Sovereign Lord, who madest heaven and earth 
25 and sea, and all that in them is, who saidest through 
the Holy Spirit, by the lips of thy servant David, 
our forefather: 


320 


26 


27 


28 
29 
30 


OL 


36 


37 


ACTS 4 


“Why did the Gentiles rage, 

And the peoples form futile plans? 

The kings of the earth set themselves in array, 

And the rulers were gathered together 

Against the Lord and against his Christ,’ 

“In this very city they did gather together 
against thy holy Servant, Jesus whom thou hast 
anointed—Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gen- 
tiles and also the tribes of Israel—to do all that 
thy power and thy will had predetermined should 
be done. And now Lord, listen to their threats, 
and grant to thy slaves to proclaim thy message 
with all boldness, whilst thou stretchest forth thy 
hand to heal; grant too, that signs and wonders may 
be done through the name of thy holy Servant, 
Jesus.” 


The Answer in Great Power 


When they had prayed, the place where they were 
gathered was shaken; and they were all filled with 
the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the message of 
the Lord with boldness. 


One Great Concord of Love 


Now the multitude of the believers was of one 
heart and one soul, nor did any one of them say 
that any of his possessions was his own; but they 
had all things common. And the apostles continued 
with great power to give their witness concerning 
the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace 
was upon them all. Nor was there any one of them 
in want, for all who owned houses or lands would 
sell them and bring the price of the things that were 
sold, and lay it at the apostles’ feet; and distribu- 
tion would be made to each according to his need. 
In this way Joseph, whom the apostles called Bar- 
nabas (“ Son of Encouragement ” is what it means), 
who was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a farm 
which he had, and SARS the price, and laid it at 
the apostles’ feet. 


2-Day Bir ssh 
821 


A 
2 


10 


iP 


12 


13 
14 


ACTS 5 


Vv | 
CAMEOS OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY 


Ananias and Sapphira 


But a man named Ananias who, with his wife 
Sapphira, sold a farm of his, kept back some of the 
purchase price, with the connivance of his wife. 
He brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ 
feet. 

“Ananias,” said Peter, “why has Satan so filled 
your heart that you are lying to the Holy Spirit, and 
keeping back part of the price of the land? While 
it remained unsold, was it not your own? And after 
it was sold, was not the price at your own disposal? 
How could you conceive this act in your heart? You 
have not lied unto men, but unto God.” 

As Ananias heard these words he fell down and 
expired, and all who heard were awe-struck. But 
the younger men rose, wrapped the body up, and 
carried it out to bury it. 

About three hours later his wife came in, not 
knowing what had happened; and Peter said to 
her, “ Tell me if you got so much for the land.” 

“ Yes,” she said, ‘so much.” 

“Why was it,” said Peter, “that you both agreed 
to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Lo, the feet of 
those who buried your husband are at the door, and 
they shall carry you out.” 

Instantly she fell down at his feet and expired, 
and when the young men came in they found her 
dead, and carried her out and buried her beside her 
husband. And great fear fell on all the church and 
upon all who heard it. 


Many Signs and Wonders 


Many signs and wonders continued to be wrought 
among the people by the hands of the apostles, and 
by common consent they all would meet in Solomon’s 
Porch, but none of the rest dared to associate with 
them. Yet the people continued to hold them in 


522 


ACTS 5 


high honor, and more and more believers in the 

15 Lord were joining them, both men and women. In 
consequence people would even bring out their sick 
into the streets, and place them upon beds and 
pallets as Peter was passing, that at least his 

16 shadow might fall upon some of them. The people 
of the towns near Jerusalem also continued to come 
in crowds, bringing their sick and those who were 
harried by unclean spirits, and all of them were 
healed. 


The Apostles Released from Prison 


17. This aroused bitter indignation among the high 
priest and his followers who were of the sect of the 

18 Sadducees, and they apprehended the apostles, and 

19 threw them into the public prison. But an angel 
of the Lord opened the prison doors during the 
night, and let them out. 

20 He said to them, “Go take your stand in the 
Temple, and continue to tell the people all the words 

21 of this Life.”’ When they heard this they went at 
early dawn to the Temple, and began to teach. 

Meantime when the high priest and his followers 
arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin and all the 
Council of the Elders of the sons of Israel, and sent 

22 to the prison to fetch the apostles. But the officers 
who went did not find them in the prison; so they 
came back and reported, 

23 “The prison we found locked fast, with the guards 
stationed at the doors, but when they were opened 
we found no one inside.” 

24. When the officer in charge of the Temple and 
the high priest heard these words, they were per- 
plexed concerning them, wondering what would come 

25 of it. And some one came and told them that the 
very men whom they had put in prison were stand- 

26 ing in the Temple, and teaching the people. On 
this the officer went off with his men and fetched 
them, not, however, by force, for they were afraid 

27 that the people would stone them. So they brought 
them, and stood them before the Sanhedrin. Then 
the high priest questioned them: 


323 


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29 
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31 


32 


38 
34 


39 


36 


oT 


38 


39 


40 
41 


ACTS 5 


“ We strictly forbade you, did we not, to teach 
about this Name, and here you have filled, Jerusalem 
with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s 
blood upon us.” 


The Apostles Reiterate Their Message 


But Peter and the apostles said in reply: 

“We must obey God rather than man. The God 
of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you slew 
by hanging him on a tree. Him God has exalted at 
his right hand as Prince and Saviour, to give Israel 
repentance and forgiveness of sins. And we are 
witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit 
whom God has given to those who obey him.’ 

When they heard this they were infuriated, and 
were minded to kill the apostles; but Gamaliel, a 
Pharisee, a teacher of the law, and held in honor 
by all the people, rose from his seat, and ordered 
the apostles to be put outside for a little while. He 
said: 


Gamaliel Urges Caution 


“Men of Israel, take care what you are about to 
do with these men. Years ago Theudas arose, claim- 
ing to be somebody, and was joined by about four 
hundred men. He was killed, and all of his fol- 
lowers dispersed and annihilated. After him Judas 
of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrolment, and 
drew away some of the people after him. He also 
perished, and all his followers were scattered. And 
now, 1 say to you, hold aloof from these men. Let 
them alone; for if this scheme or work be of human 
origin it will come to nothing; but if it is from God, 
you cannot put it down; you may even find your- 
selves fighting against God.” 


Rejoicing in Suffering 

They gave in to him; and called the apostles in, 
and after flogging them, released them, with in- 
structions not to speak about the name of Jesus. So 
they left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had 
been deemed worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake 


324 


ACTS 6 


42 of the Name; but not for a single day did they de- 


OT 


7 


sist from teaching and preaching in the Temple, and 
in private houses, the Gospel of Jesus, the Messiah. 


VI 


THE JERUSALEM CHURCH APPOINTS 
DEACONS 


Seven Deacons Appointed 


Now in these days while the number of the dis- 
ciples was multiplying, the Grecian Jews began to 
murmur against the Hebrews, because their widows 
were habitually overlooked in the distribution of 
alms. Then the Twelve called the general body of 
the disciples together, and said to them: 

“Tt is not fitting for us to leave off preaching the 
Word of God, and minister at tables. So, broth- 
ers, find from among your own number seven men 
of good reputation who are full of the Spirit and 
of wisdom, and we will appoint them over this busi- 
ness. But we will give ourselves to prayer and to 
the ministry of the Word.” 

This plan commended itself to the whole body, and 
they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the 
Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, 
Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch. 
These men they presented to the apostles who, when 
they had prayed, laid their hands upon them. 


The Church Expands 


And the word of the Lord continued to spread; 
and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was 
increasing exceedingly, and a large number of 
priests became obedient to the faith. 


The Arrest of Stephen 

Meanwhile Stephen, full of grace and power, 
wrought great wonders and signs among the people. 
But certain men from the so-called “ Synagogue of 
the Freedmen” and certain Cyrenians, and Alex- 


325 


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11 


12 


13 


14 


15 


1 


2 


ACTS 7 


andrians, Cilicians, and men from Roman Asia, 
started to dispute with Stephen, but were unable 
to withstand the wisdom and spirit with which he 
used to speak. Then they instigated some to say, 

“ We have heard him speaking blasphemy against 
Moses and against God; ” 
and in this way they excited the people. The 
elders and the scribes rushed upon him, and seized 
him, and brought him into the Sanhedrin. They 
also set up false witnesses who testified: 

“This fellow is continually talking against the 
Holy Place and against the law. For we have heard 
him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this 
place, and will change the customs which were 
handed down to us by Moses.” 

Then all who were sitting in the council at once 
fixed their eyes upon him, and saw his ae like 
the face of an angel. 


VII 


THE TESTIMONY AND MARTYRDOM OF 
STEPHEN 


And the high priest said, “ Are these things so? ” 


Stephen’s Defense 


Stephen answered: 

‘“‘ Listen, brothers and fathers. The God of glory 
appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in 
Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to 
him, 

“ Leave your country and your kindred, and come 
to whatever land I will show you. 

“So he left Chaldea and settled in Haran, and 
from there, after his father’s death, God moved him 
to this land which you inhabit. But he gave him no 
inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of 
ground; yet he promised to bestow the land as a 
permanent possession on him and his posterity— 
he at that time being childless. What God said was 
this: 

326 


ACTS 7 


“His offspring will sojourn in a foreign land 
where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four 
hundred years.’ 

7 “And the nation, whichever it is, that enslaves 
them I will judge, said God, ‘and afterward they 
shall come out, and they shall worship me in this 
place.’ * 


A Summary of Jewish History 


8 “Then he gave him a covenant of circumcision, 
and under this covenant he became the father of 
Isaac, whom he circumcised on the eighth day, and 
Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob be- 

9 came the father of the twelve Patriarchs. The 
patriarchs out of jealousy sold Joseph into Egypt. 

10 But God was with him, and delivered him out of all 
his afflictions, and gave him grace and wisdom, 
when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who 
appointed him Governor over Egypt, and over all the 

11 royal household. Then there came a famine over 
the whole of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress, 

12 so that our ancestors could not find food. But 
Jacob heard that there was food in Egypt, and sent 

18 our ancestors there on their first visit. On their 
second visit Joseph made himself known to his 
brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph’s 

14 parentage. Then Joseph sent and invited Jacob his 
father and all his family, numbering seventy-five 

15 souls, to come to him; and Jacob went down into 

16 Egypt. There he died, and our ancestors also, and 
they were carried across to Shechem, and laid in 
the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum 
of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. 


Moses Is Born 
17 “But as the time drew near for the fulfilment 
of the promise which God made to Abraham, the 
18 people multiplied and increased in Egypt; until 
19 there arose a king who knew not Joseph. He dealt 
eraftily with our race, and oppressed our fore- 


1Gen. 15 : 13. 2Bxod. 3: 12. 
827 


ACTS 7 


fathers, by making them expose their infants so 
20 that they should not live. In this time Moses was 
born, a divinely beautiful child, who was brought up 
21 for three months in his father’s house. When he 
was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and 
22 brought him up as her own son. So Moses was 
educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and 
was mighty in his words and works. 


Slaying of the Egyptian 
23  “ And when he was forty years old it came into 
his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel; 
24 and when he saw one of them wronged he wrought 
redress for the one overpowered, by striking down 
25 the Egyptian. (Now he supposed that his brothers 
would understand how God by his hand was bring- 
26 ing them deliverance; but they did not.) Next day 
he came upon two of them fighting, and tried to 
make peace between them. 
“* Sirs,’ he said, ‘you are brothers. Why are 
you wronging each other?’ 
27 “ But the man who was ill-treating his neighbor 
thrust him aside, saying, 
““Who made you a magistrate and ruler over us? 
28 Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian 
yesterday? ’* 
29 “ Alarmed at this question, Moses fled from the 
land, and went to live in the land of Midian. 
There he became the father of two sons. 


The Burning Bush 


380 “ But at the end of the forty years there appeared 
to him, in the desert of Mt. Sinai, an angel in a 

51 flame of fire, in a bush. When Moses saw it he 
was astonished at the sight. But when he drew 
near to look, the voice of the Lord said, 

382 “Lam the God of your fathers, the God of Abra- 
ham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

“And Moses trembled and dared not gaze. 
33 ‘ And the Lord said: 


Pt xXOds ie 4Fixod: 3: 6. 
828 


34 


30 


36 


37 


38 


39 


40 


Al 


42 


ACTS 7 


“Take off your sandals, for the place on which 
you are standing is holy ground. Truly I have seen 
the oppression of my people in Egypt, and I have 
heard their groans, and am come down to rescue 
them; and now, come, I will send you into Egypt. 


The Disobedience of the People 


“This Moses whom they refused when they said, 
Who made you to be a ruler and a judge? that same 
Moses we find God sending as a ruler and a re- 
deemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to 
him in the bush. This was he who brought them 
out, after he had shown signs and wonders in the 
land of Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness, 
for forty years. It was this Moses who said to the 
Children of Israel, 

“ God will raise up a Prophet for you from among 
your brothers, as he did me.* 

“This is the one who was in the congregation in 
the wilderness along with the angel who spoke to 
him in Mt. Sinai, and with our ancestors to whom 
he gave living words to hand down to us. To him 
our ancestors would not be obedient, but thrust him 
aside, and in their hearts turned back into Egypt. 
Said they to Aaron: 

“ Make Gods for us who shall march in front of 
us! As for this Moses who led us forth out of 
the land of Egypt, we know not what has happened 
to him." 


The Golden Calf 


“ And they made a calf in those days, and offered 
a sacrifice to this idol, and began to rejoice over 
what they had made with their own hands. So God 
turned from them, and gave them up to the wor- 
ship of the heavenly host, as it is written in the 
book of the Prophets: 

“Did you offer unto me slain beasts as sacrifices 
during the forty years in the wilderness, O House 


5 HWxod. 3 : 5-10. 
6 Deut. 18 : 15-18. 
WAU XO oes. 


329 


ACTS 7 


43 of Israel? No, it was the Tabernacle of Moloch and 
the star-symbol of the god Rempha that you lifted 
up—the images which you made wm order to worship 
them; so I will carry you away beyond Babylon.® 


The Tabernacle in the Wilderness 


44 ‘Jn the wilderness our ancestors had the Taber- 
nacle of Testimony built, as he appointed who told 
Moses to make it according to the pattern he had 

45 seen. That tabernacle was brought in by our an- 
cestors, in their turn, when they under Joshua 
entered on the possession of the nations whom God 
thrust out before them, until the days of David. 

46 David obtained favor with God, and asked per- 
mission to find a dwelling-place for the God of 

47 Jacob. But it was Solomon who built him a house. 

48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made 
with hands; as said the prophet: 

49 “The heaven is my throne, 

And the earth the footstool of my feet; 
What kind of house will you build for me? saith 
the Lord. 
Or what resting-place shall I have? 
50 Did not my hand make this universe? ® 


Stephen Brings the Message Home 


51 “ Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ears! 
You are always resisting the Holy Ghost! As your 

52 fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did. 
not your fathers persecute? They killed those who 
foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose be- 

538 trayers and murderers you have now become—you 
who received the law, given through angels, and 
obeyed it not.” 


They Stone Stephen 


54 As they heard these words they became furious 
55 and gnashed their teeth at him. But he, full of the 
Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and 


ACTS 8 


saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the 
right hand of God. 
56 “Look, I see heaven open,” he said, ‘and the 
Son of man standing at the right hand of God.” 
57 With a loud outcry they stopped their ears, and 
58 rushed upon Stephen in a body, dragged him outside 
the city, and stoned him, the witnesses throwing off 
their outer garments at the feet of a young man 
59 named Saul. So they stoned Stephen while he 
prayed, 
‘“‘ Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 
60 Then he knelt down and cried aloud, 
“Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” 
VIII: 1 With these words he fell asleep. And Saul 
fully approved of his murder. 


Vill 
THE MISSION OF PHILIP 


The First Persecution 


1 On this very day there broke out a great persecu- 
tion against the church in Jerusalem, and all except 
the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and 

2 Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen, and made 

3 loud lamentations over him. But Saul was laying 
waste the church. He was wont to enter into every 
house, and to drag off men and women, and to com- 

4 mit them to prison. So those who were scattered 
abroad were going everywhere preaching the word. 


The Ministry of Philip 


5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and 

6 began to preach Christ there. The crowd with one 
accord were giving heed to what he said, when they 

7 heard and saw the signs that he did. For with a 
loud cry unclean spirits would come out of many 
possessed by them, and many that were palsied and 

8 lame were healed. There began to be great joy in 
that city. 


301 


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16 


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18 


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20 


21 
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ACTS 8 


Simon the Sorcerer 


Now for some time a man named Simon had been 
practising sorcery in that city, and had amazed the 
people of Samaria. He gave himself out to be some 
great person. Many from all classes would give 
heed to him, declaring, 

“This man is the Power of God, known as the 
Great Power.” 

They were giving heed to him because, for a long 
time, he had amazed them with his sorceries. But 
when they believed Philip, who was preaching 
glad tidings about the kingdom of God and the 
name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, 
both men and women. And Simon himself also be- 
lieved, and after his baptism he remained with 
Philip, and was full of amazement as he beheld 
the signs and striking miracles which were per- 
formed. 


Peter and John Visit Samaria 


The apostles at Jerusalem, when they heard that 
Samaria had accepted the word of God, sent to them 
Peter and John, who came down and prayed for 
them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for 
he had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had 
simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 
Then the apostles laid their hands upon them, and 
they received the Holy Spirit. 


“ Simony ” 


But when Simon perceived that, by the laying on 
of the apostles’ hands, the Spirit was given, he of- 
fered them money, saying, 

“Give me, too, this power, so that on whomever 
I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.” 

But Peter said to him: 

“Your money perish with you, because you have 
supposed that with money you can obtain God’s free 
gift! You have no part or lot in this matter. Your 
heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent then 
of this your wickedness, and beseech the Lord to 


332 


ACTS 8 


23 forgive you this purpose of your heart. For I per- 
ceive that you still stand in the gall of bitterness 
and in the bondage of unrighteousness.” 

24 And Simon answered, “ Pray to the Lord for 
me, both of you, that nothing which you have said 
may happen to me.” 

25 So the apostles, after bearing solemn witness, and 
declaring the message of the Lord, returned to 
Jerusalem, evangelizing many Samaritan villages as 
they went. 


Philip and the Eunuch 


26 And an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, 

“ Arise and go on your way south, along the road 

that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert 
way.” 

27 So he arose and went. And behold an Ethiopian 
man, a eunuch, who was a high official (a chief 
treasurer) of Candace, the queen of Ethiopia, who 

28 had come to Jerusalem to worship, was now on his 
way home, and was reading the Prophet Isaiah as 
he sat in his chariot. 

29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join 
that chariot.” 

30 = =So Philip ran up, and heard him reading Isaiah 
the Prophet, and said to him: — 

“ Do you understand what you are reading? ” 

31 The eunuch answered, “ Why, how can I unless 
some one shall show me the way?” And he begged 

32 Philip to get up and sit with him. Now the portion 
of Scripture which he was reading was as follows: 

He was led like a sheep to the slaughter; 
And as a lamb before its shearer is dumb, 
So he opened not his mouth: 

30 In his humiliation justice was denied him. 
Who will declare his posterity? 
For his life is eut off from the earth. 

34 “Pray,” asked the eunuch of Philip, “of whom is 
the prophet speaking? Of himself, or of some one 
else? ” 


iIsa.<Bbdiucr 7p 8 
338 


35 
36 


08 
39 


40 


1 
2 


ACTS 9 


Then Philip opened his lips, and beginning from 
that same scripture, he preached the ‘gospel of 
Jesus to him. And as they were going on their 
way they came to a certain water, and the eunuch 
said: 

“See, here is water! What hinders my being 

baptized? ” ? . 
And he ordered the chariot to stop ; and both of them, 
Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, 
and Philip baptized him. And when they had come 
up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched 
Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but 
continued on his way rejoicing. Philip found him- 
self at Ashdod. Then visiting town after town, he 
kept preaching the good news in all the cities until 
he reached Czesarea. 


2 Verse 87 is wanting in the earliest manuscripts. 


IX 
SAUL SEES A GREAT LIGHT 


The Conversion of Saul 


Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats of 
murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to 
the high priest and begged of him letters addressed 
to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found 
any that were of the Way, either men or women, he 
could bind them and bring them to Jerusalem. 

And as he journeyed, when he was approaching 
Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed 
round him. He fell to the ground, and heard a voice 
which said to him, 

“ Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 

And he said, “ Who are you, Lord?” 

“T am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he said. 
“Stand up and go into the city, and there you shall 
be told what you must do.” 

Meanwhile the men who were his feliow travelers 
‘Stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice, but be- 


334 


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12 


16 
17 


18 


19 


ACTS 9 


holding no one. And Saul got up from the ground, 
but although his eyes were open, he continued to 
perceive nothing; so they took him by the hand and 
led him into Damascus. And he remained there 
three days, seeing nothing, and without eating or 
drinking. 


The Lord Sends Ananias 


Now there was in Damascus a disciple named 
Ananias, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision, 
saying, 

“ Ananias! ” 

And he answered, “ Lo, I am here, Lord.” 

And the Lord said to him: 

“ Arise, go into the street named ‘ Straight,’ and 
make inquiries in the house of Judas for a man of 
Tarsus, one Saul. He is now praying, and has seen 
a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on 
him to restore his sight.” 

“ But, Lord,” said Ananias, “I have heard from 
many about that man, and how much evil he did 
to the saints at Jerusalem! In this city, too, he has 
authority from the chief priests to arrest all those 
who call upon thy name.” 

“ Go,” answered the Lord, “ this man is a chosen 
instrument of mine to bear my name before the 
nations and their kings, and before the Children of 
Israel also; for I am going to show him all he has 
to suffer for the sake of my name.’’ 

And so Ananias went and entered into the house, 
and laying his hands on him, said, 

“ Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who ap- 
peared to you on your journey, has sent me that 
you may receive your sight, and be filled with the 
Holy Spirit.” 


Paul’s Sight Restored 


Instantly something like scales fell from his eyes, 
and he received his sight. He arose and was bap- 
tized. Afterward he took food and was strengthened. 
And he remained for some time with the disciples 


385 


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21 


22 


23 
24 


25 


26 


27 


28 


29 


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ACTS 9 


at Damascus. And he began at once to proclaim 
in the synagogues Jesus as the Son of ‘God. His 
hearers were all astonished, and began to say: 

“Is not this the very man who in Jerusalem made 
havoc of those who called upon the Name? Did he 
not come hither for the express purpose of carrying 
them all in chains to the high priests? ” 


A Plot to Kill Saul 


But Saul gained more and more influence, and 
kept putting the Jews who lived in Damascus to 
confusion by his proof that Jesus was the Christ. 
And when many days were fulfilled the Jews made 
a plot to kill Saul; but information of their plot 
was given Saul, and although they kept watch day 
and night on the gates, in order to make away with 
him, his disciples took him by night, and let him 
down over the wall, lowering him in a basket. 


Saul Comes to Jerusalem 


So he came to Jerusalem, and attempted to join 
the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, be- 
cause they did not believe that he was a disciple. 
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the 
apostles, and told them how Saul had seen the Lord 
in the way, and that he had spoken to him; and also 
how he had preached the Name of the Lord Jesus 
boldly at Damascus. Henceforth Saul was one of 
them, going in and out of the city, and speaking 
fearlessly in the Name of the Lord. He also used to 
hold conversations and debates with the Grecian 
Jews, but they kept trying to kill him. When they 
learned this the brothers took him down to Ceesarea, 
and then sent him forth to Tarsus. 


The Church Prospers 


Now throughout the whole of Judea, Galilee, and 
Samaria the Church continued to enjoy peace and 
to be spiritually built up. It was increasing in 
members also, as it kept walking in the fear of the 
Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. 


336 


ACTS 9 


Peter Heals Atneas 


32 Now Peter, as he was going from town to town, 
came down also to the saints who lived in Lydda. 
38 Here he found a man named Aineas, bedridden for 
34 eight years, a paralytic. Peter said to him: 
“« Jneas, Jesus Christ cures you! Rise and make 
your own bed! ” 
85 At once he rose to his feet. All the people of 
Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the 
Lord. 


Peter Raises Dorcas to Life 


86 Among the disciples at Joppa was a woman named 
Tabitha—which may be translated Dorcas or ‘“ Ga- 
zelle’”’—a woman whose life was full of good works 
and almsgiving, which she was doing continually. 

37 She, as it happened, was taken ill just at that time, 
and died. After washing her body, they laid it in 

388 an upper room. And as Lydda was near Joppa, 
the disciples, when they heard that Peter was there, 
sent two men to him with the entreaty, 

“ Delay not to come on to us.” 

39 So Peter arose and went with them. On his 
arrival they took him up-stairs, and all the widows 
stood near him, weeping, and showing him the cloaks 
and garments which Dorcas used to make, while she 

40 was still with them. But Peter put them all out, 
and kneeled down, and prayed; and then turning to 
the body, he said, 

“Tabitha, rise! ” 


Peter Lodges With a Tanner 


She opened her eyes, and on seeing Peter she sat 

41 up. Then he gave her his hand and raised her up, 

and after calling the saints and the widows, he gave 

42 her back to them alive. This incident became known 

throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 

43 Peter stayed for some time in Joppa, lodging in 
the house of Simon, the tanner. 


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2 


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10 
11 


12 
13 


14 


ACTS 10 


X 
PETER HAS AN EPOCHAL VISION 


An Angel Sent to Cornelius 


Now there was at. Cwsarea a man named Cor- 
nelius, a captain in the Italian regiment. He was a 
devout man and God-fearing, and so were all his 
household. He gave many alms to the people, and 
constantly prayed to God. About three o’clock one 
afternoon he had a vision, and distinctly saw an 
angel of God enter his house and say to him, 

* Cornelius.” 

He stared ‘at him in terror, and said, 

“ What is it, Lord? ” 

“Your prayers and your alms have risen for a 
memorial before God,’ answered the angel; “and 
now send men to Joppa and fetch one Simon, who is 
called Peter. He is staying as a guest with Simon, 
a tanner, whose house is near the sea.” 

And after the angel who was speaking to him 
was gone, he called two of his household servants 
and a devout soldier who was in constant attendance 
upon him, and after telling them everything, he sent 
them to Joppa. 


Peter’s Vision 


The next day, while they were still on their way 
and were approaching the town, about noon, Peter 
went up to the housetop to pray. He had become 
very hungry and longed for food; but while they. 
were preparing it, he fell into a trance. He beheld 
the sky opened, and a vessel descending like an 
enormous sail let down to earth by the four corners. 
In it were all kinds of quadrupeds and creeping 
things of the earth, and wild birds. A voice came to 
him, saying, 

“ Rise, Peter, kill and eat.” 

“Not so, my Lord,” answered Peter, “for I have 
never yet eaten anything common and unclean.” 


338 


ACTS 10 


15 And again a second time came to him a voice, 
saying, 
“What God has cleansed you must not call 
common.” 
16 This happened three times; and immediately the 
sail was drawn up into the sky. 


Cornelius’ Servants Arrive 


17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed to know 
what the vision which he had seen might mean, just 
then the men who had been sent by Cornelius, and 
had made inquiries for the house of Simon, stood 

18 at the gate, and called and asked whether Simon 

19 who was called Peter was lodging there. So the 
Spirit said to Peter, who was still pondering over 
the vision: 

20 ‘Three men are now looking for you. Rise, go 
down and go with them, nothing doubting; for it is 
I who have sent them.” 

21 So Peter went down to the men and said: 

“T am the man you are looking for. What is the 
reason of your coming? ” 

22 “Cornelius,” they answered, “a captain, a devout 
man, and God-fearing, of whom the whole Jewish 
nation speaks well, was instructed by a holy angel 
to send for you to come to his house, and to listen 
to your message.” 

23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging. 


Peter Goes to Cornelius 


The next day he rose, and went off with them, 
and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied 
.24 them; and the day after that they reached Cesarea. 
There Cornelius was waiting for them, and had 
brought together all his relatives and intimate 
25 friends. When Peter entered the house Cornelius 
26 met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him; but 
Peter lifted him up. 
“ Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man, myself.” 
27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found 
28 a large company assembled. To them he said: 
“You know, yourselves, that it is illegal for a Jew 


339 


ACTS 10 


to associate with or to visit one of another nation; 
but God has taught me that I should’ not call any 
man common or unclean. For this reason, when 

29 sent for, I came without demur. I ask therefore 
why you sent for me.” 

00 Cornelius answered: 

“Three days ago, at this very hour; I was pray- 
ing in my house at three o’clock in the afternoon, 
when suddenly a man in a shining robe stood by me, 

31 and said: 

“Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your alms 

32 are had in remembrance in the sight of God. So 
send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called 
Peter. He is lodging with Simon the tanner, in a 
house by the seaside.’ 

32 “So I sent for you without delay, and you have 
been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are 
all here present in the sight of God, to listen to 
what the Lord has commanded you to speak.” 


Peter’s Speech 


34 Then Peter began to speak: 
“Of a truth I begin to see quite plainly that God 
35 is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he 
who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable 
386 to him. You cannot but know the message which he 
sent to the descendants of Israel, when he preached 
the gospel of peace by Jesus Christ who is Lord of 
87 all; you know how the message spread throughout 
all Judea, beginning in Galilee, after the baptism 
38 which John preached; how God anointed Jesus. of 
Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and 
how he went about everywhere doing good, and 
curing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God 
39 was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he 
did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. 
40 They killed him, hanging him on a tree. But him 
God raised up on the third day, and permitted him 
41 to be made manifest, not to all the people, but to 
*The verb translated “ doing good” is not ayaGoroéw put 


evepyeréw, perhaps more precisely translated ‘ conferring 
benefits ” or “‘ working out good deeds.” 


340 


ACTS 11 


witnesses—men previously chosen by God—that is, 
to us, who ate and drank with him after he had 

42 risen from the dead; when he charged us to preach 
to the people, and to testify that this was he whom 
God ordained to be the judge of the living and of 

43 the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, 
testifying that through his name every one that be- 
lieves on him will receive remission of sins.” 


Gentiles Receive the Spirit 


44. While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit 
45 fell on all who were listening to the message. And 
all the Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter 
were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit 
46 was poured out upon the Gentiles also. For they 
heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. 
AT Then Peter said, “ Can any one refuse water for the 
baptism of these men who have received the Holy 
48 Spirit as well as we?” And he commanded them 
to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then 
they begged him to remain with them for a time. 


XI 
WIDENING CIRCLES OF INFLUENCE 


Peter Answers His Critics 


1 Now the apostles and the brothers that were in 
Judza heard that the Gentiles also had received the 

2 word of God.; so, when Peter came up to Jerusalem, 

3 the circumcision party disputed with him, saying, | 

“You went into the houses of the uncircumcised 
and ate with them! ” 

4 Then Peter began and explained the whole matter 

to them in order, saying: 

5 “J was in the city of Joppa, praying, and while in 
a trance I saw a vision; a certain vessel descending, 
what seemed to be an enormous sail let down from 
the sky, by the four corners. It came down to me, 

& and while I gazed at it, I examined it carefully, and 


o4d. 


17 


18 


ACTS 11 


saw the quadrupeds of the earth and the wild beasts 
and creeping things and the wild birds. I also heard 
a voice saying to me, ‘ Rise, Peter, kill and eat.’ 

“““ Not so, my Lord,’ said I, ‘for nothing common 
or unclean has ever gone into my mouth.’ 

““ But for the second time a voice spoke from the 
sky, ‘What God has cleansed, you must not call 
common.’ 

“This was said three times, and then everything 
was drawn up again into the sky. And lo! at that 
very moment, three men who had been sent for me 
from Cesarea stood before the house in which I was. 
And the Spirit bade me accompany them without 
misgiving. There also accompanied me these six 
brothers, and we went into the man’s house. Then 
he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his 
house and saying: 

“¢Send to Joppa and fetch Simon who is also 
called Peter. He will speak words to you by which 
you and all your family will be saved.’ 

* And,” said Peter, “as soon as I began to speak, 
the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as he fell upon 
us at the beginning. Then I remembered the words 
of the Lord, how he used to say, 

“¢ John indeed baptized in water, but you shall be 
baptized in the Holy Spirit.’ 

“So if God gave them the same gift as he gave 
to us, when we first believed on the Lord Jesus 
Christ, who was I that I could withstand God? ” 

On hearing this they held their peace and glori- 
fied God, saying, 

‘“Forsooth then, to the Gentiles also God has 


_ granted repentance unto life.” 


19 


20 


21 


The First Gentile Church 


Then those who had been scattered by the trouble 
that arose over Stephen, traveled as far as Pheenicia 
and Cyprus and Antioch; but they preached the 
word to none except Jews. Some of them, however, 
were Cyprians and Cyrenzans, who, on reaching 
Antioch, began to tell the Greeks also the Good News 
concerning the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord 


342 


22 


25 


74 


25 
26 


27 
28 


29 


30 


1 


2 


3 


ACTS 12 


was with them, and a great number who believed 
turned to the Lord. 


Barnabas Goes to Antioch 


When news of this reached the ears of the 
church at Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas as far as 
Antioch. When he arrived, and saw the grace of 
God, he was glad, and he encouraged them all to 
remain faithful to the Lord, with full purpose of 
heart; for he was a good man, and full of faith 
and the Holy Spirit. And a great multitude was 
added to the Lord. 


Disciples First Called Christians 


Then Barnabas visited Tarsus, to try to find Saul, 
and when he had found him he brought him to 
Antioch, where for a whole year they were guests 
of the church, and taught many people. And it was 
in Antioch that the disciples first received the name 
of “ Christians.’ 


Alms for the Poor at Jerusalem 


At that time some prophets came down from 
Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, who was 
Agabus, rose up, and being instructed by the Spirit, 
predicted that a great famine was about to come 
upon the whole inhabited earth: (It came in the 
reign of Claudius.) So the disciples decided to send 
relief, every man according to his means, to the 
brothers in Judea. This they did, forwarding their 
contributions to the elders by the hand of Barnabas 
and Saul. 


XII 
PERSECUTIONS AND PROGRESS 


Persecutions in Which James Is Beheaded 


Now, at about that time, Herod the king put 
forth his hands to ill-treat certain members of the 
church; and beheaded James, the brother of John, 
with the sword. And when he saw that it pleased 


343 


ACTS 12 


the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. (This 
4 was during the days of unleavened bread.) He had 
him arrested and thrown in prison, and put under 
guard of sixteen soldiers. He intended, after the 
5 Passover, to bring him forth to the people. So 
Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer to 
God was made by the church for him. 


Peter Released by an Angel 


6 Now when Herod was about to bring him forth, 
on that very night, while Peter was sleeping be- 
tween two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sen- 
tries before the door were guarding the prison, 
suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a 
light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, 
he woke him, saying, 

“ Rise up quickly.” 

At once the chains dropped from his hands. 

8  “ Gird yourself,” said the angel, ‘and put on your 

sandals.” 

He did so. Then he said unto him, 

“Throw your cloak about you, and follow me.” 

9 So Peter went out, following him, but did not 
realize that what the angel was doing was real, but 

10 supposed that he was seeing a vision. And when 
they had passed the first guard and the second, they 
came to the iron gate that led to the city. This 
opened to them of its own accord; and they went 
out and passed on through one street; and sud- 

11 denly the angel left him. Peter, coming to himself, 
said, 

“ Now I know for a certainty that the Lord has 
sent his angel and released me from the hand of 
Herod, and from all that the Jewish people were 
anticipating.” 


~] 


The Church Surprised 
12 So, after he had thought things over, he went to 
the house of Mary, the mother of John, surnamed 
Mark, where a large number of people were as- 
18 sembled, praying. When he knocked at the door -of 
the gate, a maid servant named Rhoda came to an- 


344 


14 


15 


16 
17 


18 


£9 


20 


ACTS 12 


swer. And when she recognized Peter’s voice, for 
very joy she did not open the door, but ran in and 
told them that Peter was standing in front of the 
gate. 

“You are mad,” they said. 

But she confidently insisted that it was so. 

“It is his angel,” they said. 

Meanwhile Peter continued to knock, until at last 
they opened the door, and were amazed to see that it 
was really he. He motioned to them to keep quiet, 
and told them how the Lord had brought him out 
of prison. 

“Tell all this to James,” he said, “and to the 
brothers,” and away he went to another place. 


Peter’s Absence Discussed 


When morning came there was no small stir 
among the soldiers as to what could possibly have 
become of Peter. Then Herod had search made for 
him, and could not find him. After sharply ques- 
tioning the guards, he ordered them off to execu- 
tion. He then went down from Judea to Cesarea, 
where he stayed for some time. : 


Herod’s Death 


Now Herod was. violently displeased with the 
people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him, 
with one accord, and after conciliating Blastus, the 
royal chamberlain, they begged for peace because 
their country depended upon the king’s country for 
‘its food supply. So on the appointed day, Herod 
put on his royal robes, and after taking his seat 
upon the throne, began to harangue them. 

“The voice of a god, and not of a man,” the 


3 people kept shouting. Instantly an angel of the 


Lord smote him, because he had not given God the 
glory, and being eaten up by worms, he died. 


Return of Barnabas and Saul 


24,25 But the word of God grew and multiplied; and 


after discharging their mission, Barnabas and Saul 
returned from Jerusalem, bringing with them John, 
surnamed Mark. 


345: 


ACTS 18 


XIII 
PAUL’S FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY 


Barnabas and Saul Sent Forth as Missionaries 


1 Now there were in the church in Antioch prophets 
and teachers; Barnabas and Symeon, surnamed “ the 
Black,” Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, the foster- 

2 brother of Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul. And as 
they were worshiping the Lord, and fasting, the 
Holy Spirit said to them, 

‘“‘ Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to 
which I have called them.” 

3 So after fasting and praying, they laid their 
hands on them, and let them go. 


They Go to Cyprus 


4 So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down 
to Seleucia, and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 

5 And while they were in Salamis, they proclaimed 
the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. 

6 They had John Mark as an assistant; and after 
going through the whole island as far as Paphos, 
they found a certain Jewish sorcerer and false 

7 prophet, named Bar-Jesus, who belonged to the suite 
of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. 
He summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to 
hear the word of God. 


Elymas Opposed the Faith 


8 But Elymas, “ the sorcerer,” for that is the trans- 

lation of his name, opposed them, and tried to divert 

9 the proconsuil from the faith. So Saul, who is also 

called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed 

steadily at him, and said: 

10 “O full of all craft and cunning, you son of the 

devil! You enemy of all goodness! Will you never 

11 stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? The 

Lord’s hand is now upon you, and you shall be 
blind, not seeing the sun for a season.” 

Instantly there fell on him a mist and a darkness, 


346 


ACTS 13 


and groping about, he sought some one to lead him 

12 by the hand. Then the proconsul, seeing what had 
happened, believed. He was astounded at the teach- 
ing of the Lord. 


They Sail to Perga 
18. From Paphos Paul and his party set sail for 
Perga in Pamphylia; but John [Mark] left them 
14 and went back to Jerusalem. Then they themselves, 
passing through from Perga, came to Antioch in 
Pisidia. 


Paul Speaks to the Jews 


Here they went into the synagogue on the Sab- 
15 bath Day and sat down. And, after the reading of 
the Law and the Prophets, the wardens of the syna- 
gogue sent word to them: 
‘“ Brothers,” they said, “if you have any word of 
encouragement to the people, say it.” 
16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, 
said: 


Outline of Jewish History 


“Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen. 
17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fore- 
fathers and made this people great, while they so- 
journed in the land of Egypt. And with an uplifted 
18 arm he led them out of it. For about forty years 
19 he bore with them in the desert, and when he had 
destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he 
gave them their land as an inheritance for about 
20 four hundred and fifty years. And afterwards he 
21 gave them Judges, until Samuel, the prophet. Then 
they asked for a king, and he gave them Saul, the 
22 son of Kish, a Benjamite, for forty years. After 
deposing him, he raised up David to be their king, 

to whom he also bore witness, when he said, 
“T have found David, the son of Jesse, a man 
after my own heart, and who will obey all my will. 
23 ‘“ Of this man’s descendants God has brought unto 


1 Pat 8997 20: 
347 


24 


25 


26 


27 


28 
29 


30, 


52 
38 


34 


35 


ACTS 13 


Israel, according to his promise, a Saviour, Jesus: 
before whose coming John had already preached a 
baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 
And John, when he was finishing his race, repeat- 
edly asked the people: 

“Who do you suppose that Iam? I am not He. 
But behold there comes One after me, whose sandal 
I am not worthy to unfasten.’ 


The Jews Betray Jesus to Death 


“ Brothers, sons of Abraham’s race, and all among 
you who reverence God, to us has the word of this 
salvation been sent. For those who dwell in Jeru- 
salem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, 
nor the utterances of the prophets which are read 
every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 
Though they found no cause of death in him, yet they 
asked Pilate to put him to death. And when they 
had fulfilled everything which had been written con- 
cerning him, they took him down from the tree and 
laid him in a tomb. 


The Message of the Resurrection 


31 “ But God raised him from the dead. For many 
days he was seen by those that came up with him 
from Galilee to Jerusalem, and are now his wit- 
nesses to the people. And we bring you glad tidings 
of the promise made to our forefathers, how that 
God fulfilled it for us their children in raising up 
Jesus; as it is also written in the second Psalm, 

“Thou art my son, today have I become thy 
Father? 

“And as to his having raised him from among the 
dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has 
said this, 

“I will give thee the holy and sure blessings of 
David. 

“ Because in another psalm he says, 

“Thou wilt not give thy Holy One to see cor- 
ruption.* 


21 P Sah? 2a 3 Isa. 55 43: Ps. 160r 10: 
348 


36 


oT 


38 
39 
40 
Al 


42 
43 


44 
45 


46 


47 


ACTS 13 


“For David, after he had served his own genera- 
tion according to the will of God, fell on sleep, and 
was gathered to his forefathers, and did see cor- 
ruption; but he whom God raised up saw no cor- 
ruption. 


Remission of Sins Proclaimed 


“ Be it known unto you therefore, brothers, that 
remission of sins is proclaimed to you through this 
man; and that by him every one that believes is 
justified from all things from which you could never 
be justified by the law of Moses. Beware, then, lest 
that spoken of in the prophets come upon you: 

“Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish, 
For in your days I will doa Jaw, 
A deed which you will never believe, 
Though one should declare it unto you.” 


The People Are Impressed 


As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue, the 
people earnestly begged that these words might be 
repeated to them on the following Sabbath. When 
the congregation broke up, many of the Jews, and 
of the devout proselytes, followed Paul and Bar- 
nabas, who talked to them, and urged them to con- 
tinue in the grace of God. 


The Apostles Turn to the Gentiles 


On the next Sabbath almost the entire city was 
gathered together to know the word of God. When 
they saw the crowds, the Jews were filled with jeal- 
ousy, and began to contradict Paul’s statements, 
and to abuse him. So Paul abe Barnabas spoke 
out boldly: 

“Tt was necessary,” they said, “ first to proclaim 
the word of God to you. But since you push it away 
from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal 
life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For such is God’s 
command to us, saying, 


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ACTS 14 


“T have set thee for a light to the Gentiles, 
That thou shouldest be for salvation to the utter- 
most part of the earth.” ° 
When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and 
glorified the word of the Lord, and all who had been 
ordained to eternal life, believed. 


They Depart to Iconium 


So the Lord’s message went far and wide, through 
the whole district. But the Jews urged on the 
devout women of high rank, and the leading citizens, 
and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Bar- 
nabas, and drove them out of the district, But they 
shook off the dust of their feet against them, and 
came to Iconium. As for the disciples, they were 
continually filled with joy, and with the Holy Spirit. 


Sisa. 49 : 6. 


XIV 
TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS IN ASIA MINOR 


From Iconium They Go to Lycaonia 


In Iconium it happened that they went together 
to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a 
great number both of Jews and of Gentiles believed. 
But the disobedient Jews stirred up the souls of the 
Gentiles, and embittered them against the brothers. 
Long time, therefore, they tarried there, speaking 
fearlessly in the Lord, who attested the word of his 
grace by permitting signs and wonders to be per- 
formed by their hands. But the mass of the city’s 
people was divided; part held with the Jews, and 
part with the apostles. And when both the Gentiles 
and the Jews with their ruler made a hostile move 
to maltreat and to stone them, the apostles got wind 
of it, and made their escape to the Lycaonian 
towns of Derbe and Lystra and the neighboring 
country. And there they continued to proclaim the 
gospel. 


350 


8 
9 
10 


11 


12 


16 


17 


18 


19 


20 


ACTS 14 


A Lame Man Healed at Lystra 


Now at Lystra there used to sit a certain man, 
lame in his feet, a cripple from birth, who had never 
walked. He was listening while Paul was preach- 
ing, and Paul, looking intently at him, and perceiv- 
ing that he had faith to be made whole, said in a 
loud voice, 

‘“* Stand upright on your feet! ” 

And he sprang up and began to walk about. Then 
the crowds, when they saw what Paul had done, 
shouted in the Lycaonian tongue, saying, 

“The gods are come down to us in human form.” 


Attempts to Worship Paul and Barnabas 


And they began to call Barnabas “ Zeus,” and 
Paul, since he was the principal speaker, “‘ Hermes ”’; 


3 and the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the 


entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to 
the gates, and along with the crowds was about to 
offer sacrifices. But when the apostles, Paul and 
Barnabas, heard of it, they rent their garments and 
rushed out among the crowd, shouting and crying: 

“Men, why are you doing all this? We also are 
men, with natures like your own! We are bringing 
you good tidings, that you are to turn from these 
empty things to the living God, who made heaven 
and earth and the sea and all that in them is. In 
bygone generations he allowed all the nations to 
walk in their own ways, and yet he left not himself 
without witness, in that he did good, and gave you 
rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your 
hearts with food and gladness.” 

Even with saying this they with difficulty re- 
strained the crowds from sacrificing to them. 


Paul Is Stoned 


And now a party of Jews came down from An- 
tioch and Iconium, and after persuading the crowds, 
they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, 
supposing him to be dead. But as the disciples col- 
lected around him, he rose and went back into the 
city. The next day he went off with Barnabas into 


S51 


ACTS 15 


21 Derbe; and after preaching the gospel to that town, 
and winning many converts, they went back to 

22 Lystra and Iconium and Antioch. Everywhere they 
strengthened the souls of the disciples, encouraging 
them to hold to the faith. 

“Tt is through many tribulations,” they said, 

“that we must enter into the kingdom of God.” 

23 They chose elders for them in every church, after 
prayer and fasting, and commended them to the 
Lord in whom they had believed. 


They Stay in Antioch 


24 Then passing through Pisidia they came to Pam- 

25 phylia and, after preaching the word in Perga, they 

26 came down to Attaleia. Thence they sailed to An- 
tioch, from whence they had been commended to 
the grace of God, for the work which they had now 

27 completed. On their arrival they assembled the 
church and reported all things that God had done 
through them, and how he had opened a door of 

28 faith to the Gentiles. And they tarried no little 
time with the disciples. 


XV 
CRAMPING FETTERS OF JUDAISM BROKEN 


The Circumcision Controversy 

1 But some men came down from Judza and at- 
tempted to teach the brethren, saying, 

“Unless you are circumcised according to Moses’ 

custom, you cannot be saved.” | 

2 Now when dispute and controversy sprang up be- 
tween them and Paul and Barnabas, the brethren 
appointed Paul and Barnabas, and certain others, to 
go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders 
about this question. 


A Commission Is Sent to Jerusalem 
3 So the church saw them off on their journey, and 
they passed through both Pheenicia and Samaria. 


352 


ACTS 15 


Here they set forth the conversion of the Gentiles, 
4 and brought great joy to all the brothers. Upon 
their arrival in Jerusalem they were received by the 
church and the apostles and elders, and they told 
5 them all things that God had done with them. But 
certain men who had belonged to the sect of the 
Pharisees, but were now believers, stood up and said,- 
“Tt is necessary to circumcise Gentiles, and to 
order them to keep the law of Moses.” 
6 The apostles and elders met to consider the mat- 
7 ter; and after there had been a long discussion,: 
Peter rose and said: 


Peter’s Clarifying Statement 


‘Brothers, you know how a good while ago God 
made choice among you, that from my lips the Gen- 
tiles were to hear the message of the gospel and 

8 believe. And God, who knows the hearts of all, gave 

this testimony in their behalf, by bestowing upon 

9 them the Holy Spirit just as he did upon us; and he 

made no distinction between us and them, in cleans- 

10 ing their hearts by faith. Now then, why are you 

tempting God by laying on the necks of these dis- 

ciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we 

11 have been able to bear? On the contrary we be- 

lieve that it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ 
that we and they shall be saved.” 


Statement of Paul and Barnabas 


12 Then the whole assembly remained silent, and 
listened to Barnabas and Saul as they told the signs 
and wonders which God had wrought among the 

13 Gentiles through them. When they had finished 
speaking, James said: 


James Speaks 


14 ‘Brothers, listen to me. Symeon has told how 
God first looked graciously upon the Gentiles, to 
take ‘out from among them a people to be called 

15 by his name. -And this is in harmony with the 
language of the prophets, which says: 


353 


ACTS 15 


16 “After these things I will return, 
And I will rebuild David's fallen tent; 
And I will build again its ruins, 
And I will set it up; 
17. So that the rest of men may seek after the Lord, 
Even all the Gentiles, who are called by my name, 
18 Says the Lord, who has been making this known 
from the beginning of the worlds 
19 “My judgment therefore, is against troubling 
those who turn to God from among the Gentiles; 
20 but that we should write to them to abstain from 
the pollution of idols and from fornication, from 
21 meat killed by strangling, and from blood. For 
Moses from the earliest times has had his preachers 
in every town where he is read aloud, Sabbath after 
Sabbath, in the synagogues.” 


Letter to the Gentile Christians 


22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, 
together with the whole church, to select some of 
their number, and to send them to Antioch with 
Paul and Barnabas. The men chosen were Judas 
called Bar-Sabbas, and Silas, leading men among the 

23 brethren. They took with them the following letter: 

“The apostles and older brothers send greet- 
ing to the Gentile Brotherhood throughout An- 

24 tioch and Syria and Cilicia; as we have heard 

that some of your number who went out from 
us have troubled you with words and upset 
your souls, without having received any such in- 


bers struction from us; we have unanimously decided 
to select certain men, and to send them to you 
26 with our beloved Barnabas and Paul; men who 
have risked their very lives for the name of our 
27 Lord Jesus Christ. So we have sent Judas and 


Silas to tell you the same things by word of 
28 mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy 
Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater 
29 burden than these necessary things; that you 
abstain from food that has been sacrificed to 


PAMOS?O FAie 2. 
354 


ACTS 15 


idols, and from tasting blood, and from things 
strangled, and from fornication. Keep your- 
selves clear from these things and it will be 
well with you. Farewell.” 


The Letter Is Read 


00 So they, when they had been despatched, went 
down to Antioch, and after gathering the whole 
multitude together, they handed them the letter, 

51 and when they had read it they rejoiced at the 

o2 comfort it brought. And Judas and Silas, who were 
themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened 

69 the brothers with many a good counsel. After 
spending some time there the brothers let them go 
with a greeting of peace to those who had sent 

oD them.’ But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch 
teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord, in 
company with others. 


Paul Begins His Second Missionary Tour 


06 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, 
“Let us go back and visit the brothers in every 
city in which we have proclaimed the word of the 
Lord. Let us see how they fare.” 


Paul and Barnabas Disagree and Part 


37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John, 

38 who was called Mark. But Paul thought it unwise 
to take with them one who had deserted them in 
Pamphylia, and had not gone on with them to the 

39 work. So there arose a sharp irritation, so that: 
they parted company; Barnabas taking Mark with 

40 him, sailed away to Cyprus; while Paul chose Silas,. 
and set forth commended by the brothers to the 

41 grace of God. He went through Syria and Cilicia, 
strengthening the churches. 


2 Verse 34 is wanting in the most ancient manuscripts. 


355 


ACTS 16 


XVI 
THE GOSPEL CROSSES OVER INTO EUROPE 


Timothy Joins Paul 


1 And he came also to Derbe and Lystra, where 
there was a certain disciple named Timothy, the 
son of a believing Jewess, and of a Greek father. 

2 He was well spoken of by the brothers in Lystra 

3 and Iconium. Now Paul, wishing that this man 
should accompany him on his journey, took him and 
circumcised him because of the local J ews, who all 

4 knew that his father was a Greek. And as they 
went on their way through the cities they handed 
them the resolutions which the apostles and the 
elders in Jerusalem had ordained for them to keep. 

5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and 
continued to increase in number daily. 


Hindered by the Spirit of Jesus 
6 Then they went through Phrygia and Galatia, the 
Holy Spirit having forbidden them to proclaim the 
7 message in Asia. When they got as far as Mysia, 
they attempted to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of 
8 Jesus would not permit it; and so they passed by 
Mysia and went on down to Troas. 


Vision of the Man of Macedonia 
9 Here a vision appeared to Paul in the night. 
There stood a man of Macedonia, entreating him 
and saying, 
“Come over into Macedonia and help us! ” 


Luke Joins the Party 

i0 So when he had seen the vision, we sought at once 
to go forth into Macedonia, because we concluded 
that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 

11 So we set sail from Troas and ran a straight course 
to Samothrace. The next day we arrived in Neapo- 

12 lis, and thence came to Philippi, a city of Macedonia, 
the foremost in its district, a Roman colony. There 
we stayed for some time. 


356 


ACTS 16 


Lydia a Seller of Purple 


13 On the Sabbath Day we went outside the city 
gate, to a riverside, where we supposed there was 
a place of prayer; and we sat down and talked 
14 to the women who had gathered there. Among 
them was a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of 
purple, who belonged to the town of Thyatira. She, 
since she was a worshiper of God, listened to us, 
and the Lord opened her heart to attend to what 
15 Paul said. When she was baptized, and her house- 
hold, she urged us, saying, 
“Tf in your judgment I am a believer in the Lord, 
come and stay at my house.” 
And she compelled us to come. 


Cure of a Slave Girl 


16 Now as we were going to the place of prayer, a 
certain slave girl met us, who had a spirit of divina- 
tion, and who brought her masters great gain by 

17 fortune-telling. She used to follow after Paul and 
us, crying out again and again, 

‘‘ These men are servants of the most high God, 
who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 


18 She persisted in this for many days, until Paul, 
worn out, turned round and said to the spirit, 
“T charge you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to 
come out of her.” 
In that very hour it came out of her. 


Paul and Silas Arrested 


149 But when her owners saw that their hopes of gain 
were gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged 
them before the magistrates, into the market-place. 

20 Then they brought them before the pretors, saying: 

“ These fellows are Jews, who are making a great 

21 disturbance in our city. They are teaching customs 
which it is not lawful for us as Romans to adopt 
or practise.” : 

22 The crowd, too, rose up together against them, 
and the pretors, after having them stripped, and 

23 after ordering them to be flogged, had many lashes 


357 


ACTS 16 


inflicted upon them, and put them in prison, with a 
24 charge to the jailer to keep them safe. On receiv- 

ing so strict an order he cast them into the inner 

prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 


Conversion of the Jailer 


25 But at midnight, while Paul and Silas were pray- 
ing and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners 

26 were listening to them, suddenly there was a great 
earthquake, so that the very foundations of the 
prison-house were shaken; and instantly all the 
doors were opened, and every one’s chains fell off. 

27 The jailer, roused from sleep, and seeing the doors 
wide open, drew his sword and was about to kill 
himself, because he thought that the prisoners had 

28 escaped. But Paul shouted loudly to him: 

“Do yourself no harm; for we are all here! ” 

29 So he called for lights, and sprang in, and, 
trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas, 

30 and brought them out, saying, 

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved? ” 

dl “ Believe on the Lord J esus,” they answered, “ and 
you will be saved, you and all your household.” 

32 Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him, 

33 as well as to all who were in his house. And he 
took them, the same hour of the night, and washed 
their wounds, and he was baptized at once, he and 

04 all his. And after bringing them up into his house, 
he set food before them, overjoyed with all his 
household in having believed in God. 


Paul and Silas Released 


35 But in the morning the pretors sent their lictors 
with the order, 
“Let these men go.” 
36 The jailer reported the words to Paul, saying: 
“The pretors have sent to release you; so come 
out, and go in peace.” 
ov? But Paul said: 
“They have flogged us publicly, uncondemned, 
men that are Roman citizens; and have thrown us 
into prison. Are they now going to get rid of us 


358 


ACTS 17 


secretly? No, indeed! Let them come here, them- 
selves, and take us out.” 


- 88 The lictors reported these words to the pretors, 


who were frightened when they heard that they 
39 were Romans. So they came and conciliated them, 
and after taking them out of prison, begged them to 
40 leave the town. So Paul and Silas came out of the 
prison, and went to Lydia’s house; and after they 
had seen the brethren and enccuraged them, they 
left Philippi. 


XVII 
PAUL PREACHES ON MARS HILL 


Paul Turns to the Jews in Thessalonica 
1. Now when they had gone through Amphipolis and 
Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica. Here there 
2 was a Jewish synagogue, and Paul, according to his 
usual custom, went in to them and, for three Sab- 
bath Days, he reasoned with them out of the Scrip- 
8 tures, explaining and quoting passages to prove that 
the Messiah had to suffer and to rise again from 
the dead and that 
“This Jesus whom I am proclaiming unto you is 
the Messiah.” 


A Riot Ensues 

4 Some were persuaded and attached themselves to 
Paul and Silas, including a number of devout Greeks, 

5 and a large number of the leading women. But the 
Jews, moved with jealousy, called to their aid cer- 
tain ill-favored and idle fellows, formed a mob, and 
began to set the town in an uproar. Assaulting the 
house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the 

6 people. And when they had failed to find Paul and 
Silas, they began to drag Jason and some of the 
brethren before the politarchs,’ shouting: 


1 Luke used to be severely criticized by knowing critics for 
using this official title, and doubts used to be cast upon the 
accuracy of his story because he used the term. Discoveries 
of inscriptions upon the monuments have proved that Luke 
was correct and that this was the title of the magistrates 
of Thessalonica. 


359 


7 


10 


Bl 


12 


13 


14 
15 


16 
1 


~] 


18 


ACTS 17 


“These fellows who have upset the habitable 
earth are come hither also. Jason has received them, 
and they all act contrary to the decrees of Cesar, 
saying that there is another king, one Jesus.” 

Both the crowd and the politarchs were disturbed 
when they heard this, but when they had taken 
security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. 


He Goes to Berea 


Now the brothers sent Paul and Silas away by 
night to Bercea. When they got there they betook 
themselves to the Jewish synagogue. The Jews of 
Beroea were more noble than those in Thessalonica, 
in that they very readily received the message with 
all readiness of mind, and day after day searched 
the Scriptures to see whether these things were so. 
So many of them became believers, and so did not 
a few Greeks, women of honorable estate, and men. 


On to Athens 


As soon as the Jews in Thessalonica learned that 
the word of God was preached by Paul in Berea 
also, they came there, and stirred up and. troubled 
the crowds. Then the brothers at once sent Paul 
down to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained 
behind. Those who were caring for Paul brought 
him as far as Athens, and there left him, with in- 
structions to Silas and Timothy to come to him with 
all speed. 


Paul on Mars Hill 


While Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his 
spirit was stirred within him, when he noticed that 
the city was full of idols. He argued in the syna- 
gogues with the Jews and the devout proselytes, and 
also daily in the market-place with those that met 
him there. A few of the Epicurean and Stoic phi- 
losophers also encountered him again and again. 
Some were saying, ; 

“What has this beggarly fellow to say?” 

Others said, ‘He seems to be a setter forth of 


260 


19 


20 


21 


22 


28 


24 


25 


26 


27 


28 


29 


30 


31 


ACTS 17 


strange gods,” because he preached Jesus and the 
resurrection. 

Then they laid hold of him and brought him up to 
Mars Hill, saying: 

“May we be told what this new teaching of yours 
is? For you are bringing certain strange things to 
our ears. We want to know, therefore, what these 
things mean.” 

(Now. all the Athenians and the strangers so- 
journing there spent their time in nothing else, but 
to tell or to hear some new thing.) 

So Paul stood up in the center of Mars Hill, and 
said: 


Altar to an Unknown God 


“Men of Athens, I perceive that in all respects 
you are remarkably religious. For as I was passing 
along and observing your objects of worship, I found 
also an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UN- 
KNOWN GOD.’ What you are worshiping in igno- 
rance, this I am proclaiming to you. The God 
who made the universe and all things in it, he, 
being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in 
temples made with hands, neither is he served by 
men’s hands, as though he needed anything, since he 
himself gives to all life and breath and all things. 
He has made of one blood every nation of men to 
dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined 
their appointed seasons and the bounds of their 
habitation, so that they might seek God, if perhaps 
they might feel after him and find him, though he is 
not far from every one of us; for in him we live 
and move and have our being; as certain even of 
your own poets have said, 

“¢ For we also are his offspring.’ 

Since then we are God’s offspring, we ought not to 
imagine that the Godhead is like to gold, or silver, 
or stone, graven by art and device of man. The 
times of ignorance God overlooked, but he now com- 
mands all men that they should all, everywhere, 
repent; inasmuch as he has fixed a day in which he 
will judge the world justly, by the Man whom he 


361 


32 


ACTS 18 


has ordained, and he has given proof of all this by 
raising him from the dead.” 

But on hearing of the resurrection of the dead, 
some began to mock; but others said, 

“We will hear you again on that subject.” 


33,34 So Paul withdrew from them. A few, however, 


1 
2 


7 


3 


attached themselves to him and believed, among 
whom was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman 
named Damaris, and some others. 


XVIII 


PAUL’S MINISTRY IN CORINTH AND THE 
THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY 


Paul Goes to Corinth 


After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 
Here he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native 
of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with 
his wife, Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all 
Jews to leave Rome. Paul came to them, and be- 
cause he was of the same trade with them, he lodged 
with them, and worked with them—for by trade 
they were tentmakers. Every Sabbath he used to 
preach in the synagogue, and tried to persuade both 
Jews and Greeks. And when Silas and Timothy 
arrived from Macedonia, Paul was engrossed in his 
message, earnestly testifying to the Jews that Jesus 
was the Messiah. But as they opposed him and 
abused him, he shook out his garments in protest, 
and said: 

“Your blood be upon your own heads. Iam clean. 
From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 


Eighteen Months in Corinth 


So he left the place, and went into the house 
of a man named Titus Justus, a worshiper of God, 
whose house adjoined the Synagogue. And Crispus, 
the warden of the synagogue, believed on the Lord, 
with all his household; and many of the Corinthians 
from time to time listened, believed, and were bap- 


362 


ACTS 18 


9 tized. And the Lord said to Paul in a vision, by 
night: 
“ Have no fear; go on speaking, and do not keep 
10 silent; for I am with you, and no one shall set upon 
you to injure you; for I have very many people in 
this city.” 
11. So he lived there a year and six months and con- 
tinued to teach them the word of God. 


Paul Before Gallio 


12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the 
Jews with one accord rose against Paul, and brought 
him before the tribunal. 

13 “This fellow,” they said, “is persuading men to 
offer unlawful worship to God.” 

14 Paul was about to open his mouth, when Gallio 
said to the Jews: 

“Tf it had been some misdemeanor or wicked vil- 
lainy, it would have been within reason for me to 

15 listen to you Jews; but as these are merely ques- 
tions about words and names and your own law, 
you yourselves must see to it. I am not willing to 
be a judge of these matters.” 

16,17 And he drove them from the tribunal. Then 
they all laid hold of Sosthenes, the warden of the 
synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal; 
but Gallio took no notice. 


Paul with Priscilla and Aquila, Sails Away 


18 And Paul after remaining in Corinth some time 
longer, took leave of the brothers, and sailed away 
to Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. As 
Paul was under a vow, he had his head shaved at 

19 Cenchrea. When they came to Ephesus he left them 
there: but he himself entered into the synagogue 

90 and reasoned with the Jews. When they begged him 

21 to stay longer, he would not consent, but said, as 
he took leave of them, 

“J will return again to you, if God will.” 

22. Then, setting sail from Ephesus, he landed at 
Cesarea; he went up to Jerusalem and saluted the 
church, and came down to Antioch. 


363 


ACTS 19 


Paul’s Third Missionary Journey 


23. After spending some time there, he set out and 
went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, 
in order, and strengthened all the disciples. 


Apollos at Corinth 


24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, a native of 
Alexandria, a learned man and mighty in the Scrip- 

25 tures, came to Ephesus. He had been instructed in 
the way of the Lord, and being full of zeal, he used 
to speak and to teach accurately the facts about 
Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John. 

26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; and 
when Priscilla and Aquila heard him they took him 
home and explained to him more accurately the way 

27 of God. When he wished to cross over into Achaia, 
the brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the dis- 
ciples in Corinth to receive him. On his arrival he 
mightily helped those who through grace had _ be- 

28 lieved, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public 
argument, proving to them from the Scriptures that 
Jesus is the Messiah. 


XIX 
THE RIOT IN EPHESUS 


Ignorant of the Holy Spirit 


1 Now it happened that while Apollos was in 
Corinth, Paul, after passing through the hinterland, 
came to Ephesus, where he found a few disciples. 

2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you be- 
lieved?” he asked them. 

“No,” said they, “‘ we did not even hear that there 
is a Holy Spirit.” 

3 “Into what, then, were you baptized?” he asked. 

And they said, “Into the baptism of John.” 

4 “John indeed baptized with the baptism of re- 
pentance,” answered Paul, “telling the people to 
believe on One who was coming after him, namely, 
on Jesus.” 


364 


ACTS 19 


5 When they heard this they were baptized into the 
6 name of the Lord Jesus; and after Paul had laid 
his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, 
and they began to speak with tongues, and to 
7 prophesy. They were in all about twelve men. 


Ephesus a Christian Center 

8 Then Paul went into the synagogue, and there con- 
tinued to preach fearlessly for about three months, 
reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom 

9 of God. But when some grew hardened and dis- 
obedient, and spoke evil of the Way before the 
crowd, he left them, withdrew the disciples, and 
continued to hold discussions daily in the lecture- 

10 hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so 
that all the inhabitants of Asia heard the Lord’s 
message, Jews as well as Greeks. 


Mighty Works and Signs 


11 God also wrought extraordinary miracles by the 

12 hand of Paul; so much so, that handkerchiefs or 
aprons were carried away from his body to the sick; 
and their diseases departed from them, and the 
evil spirits went out. 


The Seven Sons of Sceva 


18 But there were also some strolling Jewish exor- 
cists, who took it upon them to invoke the name of 
Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, 

“T adjure you by that Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 

14. There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish 

15 high priest, who used to do this. But the evil 
spirit answered, 

“ Josus I know, and Paul I have heard of, but who 
are you?” 

16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was sprang 
on two of them, overpowered them and prevailed 
against them, so that they fled out of the house 

17 naked and wounded. And this became known to 
all the people of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. 
Awe fell on them all, and the name of the Lord 
Jesus began to be held in honor. 


365 


ACTS 19 


Burning of Sorcerers’ Books 


18 Many also of those who became believers used 

19 to come*to confess and to declare their deeds. And 
some of them who had practised magic arts, collected 
their books, and burned them in the presence of all. 
And they counted the price of them, and found it to 

20 be fifty thousand silver coins. So mightily the word 
of the Lord continued to grow and to prevail. 


Paul’s Plans 


21 Now after these things were ended, Paul resolved 
in his spirit to travel through Macedonia and Achaia 
on his way to Jerusalem. 

“After I get there,” he said, “I must see Rome, 

22 too.” So he sent two of his assistants, Timothy and 
Erastus, into Macedonia, while he himself kept back 
for a time on his way into Asia. 


Demetrius, the Silversmith 


23. Now just at this time, there arose no small com- 
24 motion concerning the Way. There was a man 
named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver 
shrines of Diana, and brought rich profit to his 
25 workmen. He gathered them together with others 
of like occupation, and said: 
“Men, you know that by this business we make 
26 our money. And you see and hear that not only 
in Ephesus, but almost throughout all of Asia, this 
fellow Paul has persuaded and turned away many 
people, by telling them that they are no gods at all 
27 who are made with hands. So there is danger not 
only that our trade come into disrepute, but also 
that the temple of the great goddess Diana will be 
brought into disrepute, and that she herself may 
even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom 
all Asia and the world now worships.” 
28 After listening to this they were filled with rage, 
and cried out again and again, saying, 


“GREAT IS DIANA OF THE EPHESIANS! ” 


566 


ACTS 19 


A Riot Begins 

29 The city was filled with commotion. They rushed 
like one man into the theater, dragging with them 
Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s com- 

80 panions in travel. When Paul wanted to go in to 

31 the people, the disciples would not let him, and some 
of the Asiarchs, too, who were his friends, sent 
word to him repeatedly, entreating him not to ven- 
ture into the theater. 

32 Now some were shouting one thing, some another, 
for the assembly was in an uproar, and the majority 

33 had no idea why they were come together. And they 
brought Alexander out of the crowd, whom the 
Jews had pushed forward. And Alexander, motion- 
ing with his hand, would have made a defense to 

34 the people, but when they saw that he was a Jew 
they all, with one voice, for about two hours, shouted, 


‘“ GREAT IS DIANA OF THE EPHESIANS! ” 


The Recorder Speaks 


35 At length the recorder got them quiet. 

‘Men of Ephesus,” he said, “who here does not 
know that ‘the city of the Ephesians is temple- 
guardian of the great Diana and of the image which 

36 fell down from Jupiter? Since these facts cannot 
be gainsaid, you ought to be calm and do nothing 

37 reckless. For you have brought these men here, 
who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers 

38 of our goddess. If then Demetrius and his crafts- 
men have a grievance against any one, the courts 
are open and there are the proconsuls; let them 

39 accuse one another. But if you desire anything 
further, it must be settled in the regular assembly. 

40 For indeed we are in danger of being accused in 
regard to this day’s riot, since there is no cause for 
it, nor shall we be able to give account for this 
disorderly gathering.” 

4i With these words he dismissed the assembly. 


367 


ACTS 20 


XX 


PAUL SETS OUT TO JERUSALEM AND BIDS 
FAREWELL TO HIS CONVERTS 


Paul in Macedonia, Greece, and Troas 


1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the 
disciples and, after embracing them, bade them 
2 farewell, and started for Macedonia. And when he 
had passed through those districts and encouraged 
the disciples in many addresses, he came into Greece 
3 where he spent three months. Just as he was about 
to set sail for Syria, the Jews laid a plot against 
him, and he determined to return through Mace- 
4 donia. There accompanied him as far as Asia, 


Sopater of Bercea, the son of Pyrrhus; and of the 


Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and 
Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, 
Tychicus and Trophimus. 


Luke Joins the Party 
5 Now these had gone on, and were awaiting us at 
6 Troas; but we ourselves set sail from Philippi, after 
the days of unleavened bread, and joined them five 
days later at Troas. There we remained fora week. 


Eutychus Restored to Life 


7 On the first day of the week we met for the 
breaking of bread, and Paul, who was going away 


the next morning, began preaching to them, and pro- 


8 longed his discourse until midnight. Now there were 
many lamps in the upper room where we were as- 

9 sembled, and a young man named Kutychus was 
sitting in a window, overborne by deep sleep, while 
Paul continued to preach at length. Overcome at 
last by sleep, he fell down from the third story, and 

10 was taken up dead. Then Paul went down, threw 
himself upon him, and embracing him, said: 

“ Do not lament; his life is still in him.” 

11 Then he went upstairs again, broke bread and 

took some food, and after talking with them a long 


368 


a 


ACTS 20 


12 time, even until daybreak, he left them. They had 
taken the lad home alive, and were not a little com- 
forted. 


On the Journey 


13 The rest of us going before to the ship, set sail 
for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; 
for so he had appointed, because he intended to go 

14 by land. And when he met us at Assos, we took him 

15 in, and came to Mitylene. We sailed from thence, 
and arrived next day off Chios; and the day after 
we touched at Samos; and the following day we 

16 came to Miletus. For Paul had determined to sail ~ 
past Ephesus, so as not to spend time in Asia, for 
he was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if it were 

17 possible, by the day of Pentecost. From Miletus 
he sent to Ephesus for the elders of thes church to 

18 come to him; and when they arrived, he said to 
them: 


Paul’s Farewell Address 


“You yourselves know quite well, how I lived 
among you, from the first day that I set foot in 
19 Asia, serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, 
and with tears, and amid trials that befell me 
20 through the plots of the Jews. You know that I 
never shrank from declaring to you anything that 
was profitable, nor from teaching you publicly and 

21 in your homes, testifying both to Jews and Greeks 
repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord 

22 Jesus Christ. And now I am going to Jerusalem, 
bound in the Spirit, not knowing what will befall 

23 me there, except that in city after city the Holy 
Spirit is warning me that bonds and afflictions are 

24 awaiting me. But I hold not my life of any ac- 
count, as dear unto myself, if only I may run my 
race, and accomplish the ministry which I received 
from the Lord Jesus, to attest the gospel of the 
25 grace of God. And now I know that not one of you 
among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, 

26 will ever see my face again. So I testify to you 
this day that I am clear from the blood of all men; 


369 


27 
28 


29 


32 
39 
34 
55 


56 
O7 


38 


1 
2 


ACTS 21 


I never shrank from telling you the whole counsel 
of God. Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock 
of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you over- 
seers, and be shepherds of the church of God which 
he has purchased with his own blood. I know that 
after my departure fierce wolves will come among 
you, and they will not spare the flock; and that 
from among your own number, men will arise, per- 
verting the truth, to draw away the disciples after 
them. So be on guard; and remember that for three 
years I ceased not to admonish you all, night and 
day, even with tears. 


Paul Preserves a Saying of Jesus 


“And now I commend you to God and to the word 
of his grace. He is able to build you up, and to give 
you your inheritance among all those who are con- 
secrated. No man’s silver or gold or clothing did 
I ever covet. You yourselves know how these hands 
of mine provided for my needs, and those of my 
companions. In all things T have set you an ex- 
ample, how that so toiling, you ought to help the 
weak and to remember the words of the Lord 
Jesus, how he himself said, 

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” 

When he had so said, Paul kneeled down, and 
prayed with them. And they all began, with loud 
lamentations, to throw their arms about his neck, 
and to kiss him lovingly again and again, sorrowing 
most of all for the words that he had spoken, that 
after that day they should look upon his face no 
more. And they began to escort him to the ship. 


XXI 
PAUL AND THE JERUSALEM RIOT 


On the Way to Jerusalem 


When at last we had torn ourselves away, and had 
set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos, and next 
day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. And when 


370 


it 


8 


9 
10 


11 


12 


13 


14 


ACTS 21 


we had found a ship bound for Pheenicia, we went 
aboard and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and 
leaving it on the left hand, we sailed for Syria, and 
put in at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload 
her cargo. We looked up the local disciples and 
remained there seven days; and these disciples kept 
telling Paul, through the Spirit, that he should not 
set foot in Jerusalem. When, however, our time was 
up, we left and started on our journey; and all of 
them, with wives and children, were escorting us on 
our way until we were out of the city; then, kneeling 
down on the beach, we prayed, and said good-bye, 
and went on board ship, while they returned home 
again. 


With Philip in Caesarea 


And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, 
we reached Ptolemais, and greeted the brothers and 
stayed with them one day. On the morrow we 
started for Cxesarea, where we went into the house 
of Philip, the evangelist, who was one of the seven, 
and stayed with him. 


Agabus Predicts Disaster 


Now Philip had four unmarried daughters who 
prophesied, and while we remained there many days, 
a prophet named Agabus came down from Judza. 
He came to us, and taking Paul’s girdle, he bound 
his own feet and hands, saying, 

“ Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So will the Jews at 
Jerusalem bind the owner of this girdle, and de- 
liver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” 

As soon as we heard these words, both we and 
those who were standing near entreated Paul not to 
go up to Jerusalem. 

“ What do you mean by thus breaking my heart 
with your grief?” answered Paul. “For I am 
ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jeru- 
salem, for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 

And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, 
saying, 

“The will of the Lord be done.” 


371 


ACTS 21 


Paul Comes. to Jerusalem 


15 <A few days after this we took up our luggage 

16 and went up to Jerusalem. And some of the dis- 
ciples from Czsarea accompanied us. They led us 
to the house of Mnason, a Cypriote, a disciple of 

17 long standing, with whom we were to lodge. At 
length we reached Jerusalem, and the brothers there 
received us gladly. 


Paul Sees James 


18 On the following day we went with Paul to call 

19 on James, and all the elders were present. After 
saluting them Paul rehearsed, one by one, the things 
that God had done among the Gentiles. by his min- 

20 istry. And they, when they pean it, glorified God, 
and said to him: 


Paul Conciliates Jewish Christians 


“You see, brother, how many thousands there 
are among the Jews, of those who have believed, 
21 and they are all zealous for the law. Now what 
they have been told about you, again and again, is 
that you teach all the Jews who are among the 
Gentiles, to forsake Moses, and not to circumcise 
22 their children, nor to follow the old customs. What 
then ought to be done? They will certainly hear 
25 that you are come. So do this that we tell you. 
24 We have four men here under a vow; associate 
yourself with them, purify yourself with them, and 
pay their expenses so that they may have their 
heads shaved; then every one will know that there 
is no truth in the rumors that they have heard 
about you; but that you yourself walk orderly 
25. obeying the law. As for the Gentile believers, we 
wrote giving judgment that they should abstain 
from anything sacrificed to an idol, from blood, from 
what is strangled, and from fornication.” 
26 Then Paul took the men, and after purifying him- 
self with them next day, went into the temple to 
declare the fulfilment of the days of purification, 


372 


ACTS 21 


until the offering was offered for every one of 
them. 


Paul Apprehended 


27 But when the seven days were almost over, the 
Asiatic Jews caught sight of him in the temple, 
and began to stir up all the crowd, and laid hands 

28 on him, shouting: 

“Men of Israel, help! This is the man who goes 
everywhere preaching to everybody against the peo- 
ple, and the Law, and this place. And he has ac- 
tually brought Gentiles even into the temple, and 
has desecrated the holy place.” 

29 (For they had formerly seen Trophimus, the 
Ephesian, with him in the city, and supposed that 

30 Paul had brought him into the temple.) Tne whole 
city was thrown into uproar. The mob surged to- 
gether, seized Paul, and began to drag him outside 
the temple. Whereupon the doors were at once 
shut. 


Rescued by a Roman Tribune 


31 While they were attempting to kill him, news 
came to the tribune [commander of the garrison] 
382 that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. At once he 
took soldiers and centurions, and rushed down upon 
them. When they saw the tribune and the troops, 

383 they left off beating Paul. Then the tribune came 
up and seized him, and ordered that he be bound 
with two chains. 

“Who is he?” he began asking, “and what has 
he done?” 

84 Some among the crowd kept shouting one thing, 
some another; and when the tribune could not learn 
the facts because of the uproar, he ordered Paul into 
the barracks. 


Paul Explains 
35 When Paul was going up the steps, he had to be 
carried by the soldiers, because of the violence of 
36. the mob, for the whole mass of the people were 
following him, shouting, 


378 


ACTS 22 


“ Away with him!” 

37 Just as he was about to be taken into the bar- 

racks, Paul said to the tribune, 
“May I speak to you?” 

38 “Do you know Greek?” said the tribune; ‘“ Are 
you not, then, the Egyptian who in days gone by 
stirred up to sedition, and led into the wilderness 
the four thousand cutthroats? ” 

39 “IT am a Jew,” answered Paul, “a native of 
Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city. And I 
pray you, give me permission to speak to the 
people.” 

40 So when he had given leave, Paul stood on the 
stairs, beckoning with his hand to the people. There 
came a great hush, and he spoke to them as follows, 
in Hebrew: 


XXII 
PAUL MAKES HIS DEFENSE 


Paul Addresses the Mob 


1 “Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which 
I now make in your presence.” 

2 When they heard him speaking in Hebrew they 
became the more quiet. 


Tells of His Conversion 


38 “Iama Jew,” he said, “ born in Tarsus of Cilicia, 
but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, 
taught according to the strict manner of the Law of 
our forefathers, ardent for God, even as you all 

4 are this day. I persecuted to the death this Way, 
continually binding and delivering up to prisons 

5 both men and women. To this the high priest and 
all the council of elders are witnesses. It was from 
them that I received letters to the brothers in 
Damascus, and I was already on my way to bring 
those also who were there back to Jerusalem, in 

6 bonds, for punishment. But when, on my journey, 
I was nearing Damascus, about noon, suddenly a 


374 


ACTS 22 


7 great light from heaven shone round about me. 
I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying 


to me, 
“ “Saul! Saul! why are you persecuting me?’ 
8 ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. 


““T am Jesus, the Nazarene, whom you are per- 
secuting,’ he answered me. 

9 “Now my companions, though they beheld the 
light, did not hear the words of Him who spoke 
to me. 

10 “And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ and the 
Lord said to me, ‘ Rise and go into Damascus, and 
there you will be told about all that you are destined 
to do.’ 

11 “And as I was seeing nothing for the glory of the 
light, I was led by the hand of my companions, and 

12 so came into Damascus. And a certain Ananias, 
a pious man according to the Law, well thought of 

13 by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and 
standing by me, said to me, 

‘““* Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ 

. “In that very hour I regained my sight and 

14 looked up at him. Then he said: 

“The God of our forefathers has appointed you 
to know his will; and to see the righteous One, and 

15 to hear a voice from his mouth. For before the face 
of all men you will be a witness for him of what 

16 you have seen and heard. And now why do you 
wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your 
sins, calling upon his name.’ 


Paul Has a Vision in Jerusalem 


17 “ After nty return to Jerusalem, and while I was 
18 praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw 
him saying to me, 

“Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, 
because they will not receive your testimony con- 
cerning me.’ 

19 “*Lord,’ I replied, ‘they themselves well know 
that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue 
20 after synagogue those who believed in you, and when 
the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also 


“375 


ACTS 22 


was standing by and consenting, and holding the 
garments of his murderers.’ 

21 “* Depart,’ he said to me, ‘for I will send you 
forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.’ ” 


Paul Is Bound 


22 Until they heard this last statement, the people 

were listening to Paul, but now they roared out: 
“Away with such a fellow from the earth! He 
is not fit to live! ” 

23 When they continued to shout, throwing their 

24 clothes into the air, and flinging dust around, the 
tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, 
and examined under the lash, to learn for what 
reason the people were thus crying out against him. 

25 But when they had tied him up with the thongs, 
Paul said to the centurion who was _ standing 
near, 

“Tf a man is a Roman citizen, and uncondemned, 
is it lawful for you to scourge him?” 

26 When the centurion heard that, he went to the 
tribune and said to him: 

“ What are you intending to do? This man is a 
Roman citizen.” 
27 So the tribune came to Paul and asked him, 
“Tell me, are you a Roman citizen? ” 
Ces Hale Sal. 

28 “I paid a large sum to get this citizenship,” said 
the tribune. 

“ But I was citizen-born,” said Paul. 

29 Then those who were about to scourge him, imme- 
diately left him. And the tribune too, was afraid, 
when he learned that Paul was a Roman citizen, 
for he had had him bound. 


Paul Before the Sanhedrin 


30 The next day, as he wished to learn the real 
reason why the Jews accused Paul, he unbound him, 
and commanded the chief priests and all the San- 
hedrin to come together, and brought Paul down, 
and placed him before them. 


376 - 


ACTS 28 


XXIII 


PAUL ESCAPES TO CASSAREA 


Paul Before the Sanhedrin 
1 With a stedfast gaze at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, 
‘Brothers, I have lived with a good conscience 

before God to this day.” 

2 Then the High Priest Ananias ordered those who 
stood near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 

8 “You whited sepulcher,” exclaimed Paul, “ God 
will strike you! You are sitting there to judge me 
according to the law, are you? And do you com- 
mand me to be struck, contrary to the law? ” 

4 “Do you rail at God’s high priest? ” said the by- 
standers. 

5 “Brothers, I did not know that he was the high 
priest,” exclaimed Paul, “for it is written, Thou 
shalt not speak evil of a ruler of my people.” * 


Paul Causes Dissension 
6 Then perceiving that half the Sanhedrin were 
Sadducees and the other half Pharisees, he cried 
out in the Sanhedrin: 
‘‘ Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees! 
It is for the hope of the resurrection of the dead 
that I am on trial! ” 
7 When he said this, there arose a quarrel between 
the Pharisees and Sadducees; the meeting was 
8 divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no 
resurrection, neither angel nor spirit; the Phar- 
9 isees affirm them all. Then a great clamor arose; 
some of the scribes who belonged to the Pharisaic 
party stood up, and contended: 
“We find nothing wrong in this man. What ifa 
spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?” 


Paul Again Rescued 


10 But when the dissension became violent, the 
tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul in pieces, 


1Hxod. 22 : 28. 
377 


ACTS 23 


ordered the troops to march down and take him 
by force from among them, and bring him into the 
barracks, 


A Vision in the Night 


11 And the following night the Lord stood by him 
and said: 
“Be of good courage; for as you have borne 
faithful witness concerning me at Jerusalem, so 
you must testify at Rome also.” 


A Plot by the Jews 


12 When day dawned the Jews made a conspiracy, 
and bound themselves under a curse, saying that 
they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed 

13 Paul. And there were more than forty who had 

14 sworn this oath. They went to the high priests and 
elders, and said to them: 

“We have bound ourselves by a solemn oath to 

15 eat nothing until we have killed Paul. Now do you 
and the Sanhedrin ask the tribune to bring’ him 
down to you, as though you would judge his case 
more exactly; and we are ready to kill him, before 
he comes near the place.” 


Paul’s Nephew Exposes the Plot 


16 But Paul’s sister’s son heard of their intended 
attack, and he went and got into the barracks, and 

17 told Paul. And Paul called one of the centurions, 
and said, 

“Take this young man to the tribune, for he 
has something to tell him.” 

18 . So he took him, and brought him to the tribune, 
and said, 

“ Paul, the prisoner, called me to him, and begged 
me to bring this young man to you, because he has 
something to tell you.” 

19 And the tribune took him by the hand, and going 
aside, asked him privately, 

“What is it that you have to tell me?” 

20 “The Jews,” he answered, “have agreed to 
ask you to bring down Paul tomorrow to the San- 


378 


ee 


ACTS 28 


hedrin, as though they wish to examine his case 
21 in detail. Now do not let them persuade you, for 
more than forty men are lying in wait for him, who 
have bound themselves under a curse, not to eat 
nor drink until they have killed him; even now 
they are all ready, awaiting your consent.” 
22 So the tribune sent the young man home with the 
injunction, 
“Tell no man that you have given me this in- 
formation.” 


The Tribune Calls the Troops 


23 Then he called two centurions to him and said: 
“Get ready bv nine o’clock tonight two hundred 
infantry to march as far as Caesarea, and also 
seventy troopers and two hundred spearmen.” 
24 He further ordered them to provide horses on 
which to mount Paul, so as to bring him safely to 
25 Felix, the governor. He also wrote a letter in the 
following terms: 
26 “Claudius Lysias unto the Most Excellent 
27 Governor Felix, greeting. This man Paul had 
been seized by the Jews, and was about to be 
killed by them, when I came upon them with 
the troops, and rescued him, as I had learned 


28 that he was a Roman citizen. Anxious to find 
out why they had accused him, I brought him 
29 down to their Sanhedrin. Here I learned that 


he was accused about questions of their law, 
but was not charged with anything worthy of 

30 death or imprisonment. Now when I received 
information that there would be a plot against 
the man, I sent him at once to you, charging 
his accusers also to speak against him before 
you.” 


Paul Goes to Felix 
81 So the soldiers took Paul, as they were bid, and 
32 brought him by night to Antipatris. Next day the 
infantry returned to the barracks, leaving the 
33 troopers to ride on with him. They reached Cesarea 
and delivered the letter to the governor, and also 


379 


ACTS 24 


34 presented Paul before him. After reading the let- 


35 


1 


mi 


ter, he asked to what province he belonged, and 
when he understood that he was of Cilicia, he said, 
VE will hear your case when your accusers also 
are come.’ 
And ‘he ordered him to be kept in custody in 
Herod’s palace. 


XXIV 
PAUL BEFORE FELIX 


Tertullus Accuses Paul 


Five days later, Ananias the high priest came 
down to Cesarea with some of the elders, and with 
an orator, named Tertullus. They laid informa- 
tion before the governor against Paul. So Paul 
was sent for, and then Tertullus began to accuse 
him, saying: 

“ As it is owing to your excellency that we enjoy 
profound peace, and that the state of this nation, 
owing to your wise care, has been improved in every 
respect and in every place, we accept it with pro- 
found thankfulness. But not to weary you too 
much, I beg of your Excellency to listen to a few 
words from us. For we have found this fellow a 
pest, an inciter of insurrection among all the Jews 
of the empire, and a ringleader in the heresy of 
the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the 
Temple, but we arrested him. From him you will 
be able, by examining him yourself, to learn the 
truth of all these charges we are bringing against 
him.” 

The Jews also joined in the charge, maintaining 
that these were the facts. Then at a nod from 
the governor, Paul spoke: 


Paul’s Address 


“Because I know that for many years you have 
been a judge in this nation, 1 feel encouraged to 
make my defense. For you have it in your power 


1 Verse 7 wanting in the most ancient manuscripts. 


380 


22 


23 


24 


ACTS 24 


to know that it is not more than twelve days ago 
that I went up to Jerusalem to worship; and that 
neither in the Temple, nor in the synagogues, nor 
in the city, did they find me disputing with any 
man or stirring up a crowd. Nor can they prove 
the charges which they are now bringing against 
me. But this I confess to you, that I worship the 
God of our ancestors, according to the Way which 
they call a heresy, believing everything that is ac- 
cording to the Law, or is written in the Prophets, 
and having a hope toward God, which these also 
themselves look for, that there is to be a resurrec- 
tion both of the just and the unjust. Hence I too 
endeavor to have a conscience void of offense to- 
ward God and men alway. 

“Now after many years I came to bring alms 
to my nation, and to offer sacrifices. While I was 
thus engaged, they found me in the temple, purified, 
with no crowd and no uproar. But there were cer- 
tain Asiatic Jews who ought to have been here be- 
fore you, and to have made accusations if they had 
anything against me. Or let these men themselves 
say what fault they found, when I appeared be- 
fore the Sanhedrin! Unless it was for this one 
sentence which I uttered when I stood and cried, 
‘It is for the resurrection of the dead that I am 
on my trial today before you.’ ” 


Felix Postpones the Case 


At this point Felix, who had a pretty accurate 
knowledge of the Way, adjourned the case, saying 
to the Jews, 

“ When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will go 
carefully into the matter.” 

And he gave orders to the centurion that Paul 
should be kept in custody, but treated with indul- 
gence, and that his personal friends were not to 
be forbidden to minister to him. 


Waiting for a More Convenient Season 
Some days later Felix came, with his wife Dru- 
silla, a Jewess; he sent for Paul, and listened to him 


381 


ACTS 25 


25 concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. And as he 
reasoned about morality, self-control, and the future 
judgment, Felix was terrified, and said, 

“For the present go on your way, and when I 
find a convenient season, I will send for you.” 


Felix Is Superseded 


26 He was hoping that Paul would give him money, 
and for this reason he used to send for him often 

27 to converse with him. But after two full years 
Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and because 
he wished to curry favor with the Jews, Felix left 
Paul still in prison. 


XXV 
PAUL BEFORE FESTUS APPEALS TO CASAR 


Festus, the New Governor, Takes the Case 


1 Three days after Festus entered his province, he 
2 went up from Cesarea to Jerusalem. The high 
priest and the Jewish leaders laid charges against 
3 Paul before him. They urged him, asking it as a 
favor, to send for him to Jerusalem. They meant 
to lay in wait for him and kill him on the way. 
4 But Festus answered that Paul was in custody at 
Czesarea, and that he himself was going there soon. 
5 “Let those then,” he said, “who are in author- 
ity among you, go down with me, and if there is 
anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.” 


The Hearing in Caesarea 


6 After staying not more than eight or ten days 
among them, he went down to Czsarea, and the 
next day, after taking his seat upon the tribunal, he 

7 ordered Paul to be brought. When he came in, the 
Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood 
around him and brought a number of serious charges 

8 against him, which they could not prove. Paul said 
in his defense, 

“T have committed no crime against the Law of 
the Jews, against the Temple, or against Cesar.” 


382 


9 


10 


11 


13 
14 


15 


16 


Le 


18 
19 


ACTS 25 


But Festus, wishing to ingratiate himself with 
the Jews, answered Paul and said, 

“ Will you go up to Jerusalem and be tried there 
by me upon these charges? ” 


Paul Appeals to Cxsar 

“T am standing before Cesayr’s tribunal,” an- 
swered Paul, ‘where I ought to be tried. I have 
done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know. 
If I am a criminal and have done anything for 
which I ought to die, I do not object to die. But if 
none of their charges is true, no man can give me 
up to them. I appeal to Ceasar.” 

Then Festus, after conferring with the council, 
answered: 

“You have appealed to Cesar; to Cesar you 
shall go.” 


Festus Tells the Case to Agrippa 


A short time after this King Agrippa and Bernice 
came to Cesarea to pay their respects to Festus. 
And while they tarried there many days, Festus 
laid Paul’s case before the king. 


Festus Lays the Case Before Agrippa 


“There is a man here,” he said, “whom Felix 
left a prisoner. The chief priests and the elders 
of the Jews informed me about him, when I was 
at Jerusalem, demanding a sentence against him. 
I told them that it was not the custom of the 
Romans to give any man up for punishment, before 
the accused had his accusers face to face, and had 
opportunity of defending himself against the 
charges that had been brought against him. 

“So when a number of them came together here, 
I made no delay, but the next day took my seat in 
the tribunal, and commanded the man to be brought. 
But when his accusers stood up, they did not begin 
charging him with any of the crimes that I was 
expecting, but they kept quarreling with him about 
certain matters connected with their own religion, 
and about one Jesus who had died, but whom Paul 


383 


ACTS 26 


20 affirmed over and over was alive. I was perplexed 
how to investigate such questions, and asked Paul 
whether he would go to Jerusalem, and. there be 

21 judged of these matters. But when Paul appealed 
to have his case reviewed for the decision of the 
Emperor, I ordered him to be detained until I could 
send him up to Cesar.” 

22 “I should like to hear the man, myself,” said 
Agrippa to Festus. 


Festus answered, “ You shall hear him tomorrow.” 


Paul the Prisoner Brought In 

23 So next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great 
pomp, and took their places in the hall of audience, 
accompanied by the tribunes and men of high rank 
in the city. At the command of Festus Paul was 
brought in. 


Festus Explains 
24 “King Agrippa,” said Festus, “ and all. men whu 
are present with us, you see here the man about 
whom the entire body of the Jews at Jerusalem, 
and here also, sent to me, crying out that he ought 
25 not to live any longer. I could not find that he had 
done anything for which he ought to die; but as he 
himself has appealed to the Emperor, I have deter- 
26 mined to send him. Now I have nothing very 
definite to tell our sovereign about him. So I have 
brought the man before you all, and especially be- 
fore you, King Agrippa, in order that, after exam- 
27 ination, I may have something to write. For it 
does seem to me unreasonable to send a person with- 
out signifying the charges against him.” 


XXVI 


PAUL’S GREAT DEFENSE BEFORE AGRIPPA 


1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, 
“You are permitted to speak for yourself.” 
So Paul stretched forth his hand and began to 
make his defense: 


384 


2 


9 
10 


i fu 


12 
13 


14 


15 


“ACTS 26 


The Story of Paul’s Life 


“T think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am 
to make my defense before you this day, in regard 
to all the accusations brought against me by the 
Jews; especially since you are an expert in all Jew- 
ish customs and questions. I pray you, hear me 
with patience. 

“The kind of life I have lived from my youth 
upward among my own nation and at Jerusalem, all 
that early life of mine, is well known to all the 
Jews. They know me of old, if they are willing 
to testify, how that according to the strict sect of 
our religion, I lived a Pharisee. Today I am stand- 
ing trial because of the hope of the promise made 
by God to our ancestors, a promise which our twelve 
tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope 
to attain. It is concerning this hope, King Agrippa, 
that I am accused by the Jews. Why is it deemed 
incredible by you all, if God raises the dead? 


Paul Tells Again the Story of His Conversion 


“TI indeed once thought with myself that I ought 
to do many things against the name of Jesus, the 
Nazarene. And this also I did in Jerusalem. 
Armed with authority from the chief priests, I shut 
up many of the saints in prison, and when they 
were condemned to death I gave my vote against 
them. In all the synagogues also I punished them 
oftentimes, and tried to make them blaspheme; and 
in my mad fury I was pursuing them even to foreign 
cities. 

* On this errand I was traveling to Damascus one 
day; armed with authority and commission of the 
chief priests, when at-noon, as I journeyed, O King, 
I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, 
shining around me and around those who journeyed 
with me. We all fell to the ground; and I heard a 
voice saying to me in Hebrew: 

“¢ Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It 
is hard for you to kick against the goad.’ 

“Who are you, Lord?’ I said. 


385 


16 


17 
18 


19 
20 


21 


22 


23 


24 


25 
26 


27 
28 


ACTS 26 


“ And the Lord said: ‘I am Jesus whom you are 
persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet, for 
I have appeared to you in order to appoint you my 
minister and my witness both of what you have 
already seen and of those things in which I will ap- 
pear to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish peo- 
ple, and from the Gentiles to whom I am’ sending 
you to open their eyes so that they may turn from 
darkness to light, and from the power of Satan 
unto God, in order to receive remission of sins and 
an inheritance among those who are sanctified by 
faith in me.’ 

“ So then, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient 
unto the heavenly vision; but I proceeded to preach, 
first to those in Damascus, and then in Jerusalem 
and throughout all the country of Judea, and also 
to the Gentiles, that they must repent and turn to 
God and do deeds worthy of repentance. For this 
reason the Jews seized me in the temple, and tried 
to kill me. But having obtained the help that comes 
from God, I stand even to this day witnessing both 
to small and great, saying nothing except what the 
prophets and Moses said should come; how that the 
Christ must suffer, and how he should be the first 
to rise from the dead, and should bring a message 
of light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” 


“ You Are Mad, Paul” 


As Paul thus made his defense, Festus exclaimed 
in a loud voice: 

“Paul, you are raving mad; your great learning 
is driving you mad.” 

‘Tl am not mad, most noble Festus,” said Paul. 
“I am speaking words of sober truth. For the 
King, to whom I am speaking freely, knows of these 
matters. I am persuaded that not one of these 
things has escaped his notice; for these things 
were not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you 
believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 

Agrippa answered, 

“In short, you are doing your best to persuade 
me to become a Christian.” 


386 


ACTS 27 


29 ‘Long or short,’’ answered Paul, “my prayer ti 
God is that not only you but all who are my hearers 
this day might become such as I am, save for these 
chains.” 


Paul Acquitted 


00 Then the king rose, and Bernice, and those who 
ol were sitting with him. When they had withdrawn 
they continued talking to one another. 
“This man is doing nothing,” they said, “for 
which he deserves death or imprisonment.” 
82 And Agrippa said to Festus, 
“If he had not appealed to Cesar, he might have 
been set. free.” 


XX VII 
THE SHIPWRECK 


Paul Starts for Rome 


1 When it was decided that we should sail for Italy, 
they proceeded to hand over Paul and a few other 
prisoners to the custody of Julius, a centurion of 

2 the Imperial Regiment. We embarked in a ship of 
Adramyttium which was about to sail to the ports of 
the province of Asia, and put to sea. Aristarchus, 
a Macedonian of Thessalonica, accompanied us. 

& The next day we touched at Sidon. There Julius 
treated Paul kindly, and gave him leave to visit his 
friends and refresh himself. 

4 Putting to sea from thence we sailed under the 
lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us; 

5 and after sailing across the Cilician and Pamphylian 

6 waters, we came to Myra, in Lycia. And there the 
centurion found an Alexandrian ship bound for 

7 Italy, and put us on board of her. For many days 
we sailed slowly, and then arrived with difficulty 
over against Cnidus; from this point, as the wind 
did not further favor us, we ran under the lee of 

8 Crete, off Cape Salmone; and coasting along with 
difficulty we reached a place called Fair Havens, 
not far from the town of Lasea. 


387 


9 


10 


11 
12 


18 


14 
15 


16 


Hire 


18 
19 
20 


21 


ACTS 27 


Paul Warns of Danger 


By this time the season was far advanced, and 
sailing had become dangerous (for the Autumn 
Fast was past); so Paul began to warn them: 

“Sirs,” he said to them, “I perceive that the 
voyage will be attended with injury and serious loss, 
not only to the cargo and to the ship, but also to 
our own lives.” 

But the centurion paid greater heed to the master 
and to the owner than to anything that was spoken 
by Paul; and as the harbor was ill adapted for 
winter quarters, the majority advised putting out 
to sea from thence, to see whether they could get to 
Pheenix and winter there, a harbor on the coast 
of Crete facing northeast and southeast. And when 
the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had 
obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and 
sailed along Crete, close in shore. 


The Storm Bursts 


But it was not long before a furious wind, called 
Euroclydon, rushed down from the island; when 
the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we 
gave way to it, and let her drive. Then we ran 
under the lee of a little island named Clauda, where 
with great difficulty we were able to secure the 
ship’s boat. After hauling it aboard, they used 
ropes to undergird the ship, and since they were 
fearful lest they should be driven upon the Syrtes, 
they lowered the gear and lay to. And as we were 
being terribly battered by the storm, the next day 
they began to throw the freight overboard, and on 
the third day with their own hands they threw 
the ship’s tackling overboard. Then when for many 
days neither sun nor stars were seen, and a great 
tempest still beat. upon us, all hope that we should 
be saved was now taken away from us. When for 
a long time they had been without food, Paul stood 
among them and said: 


1 Quicksands off the coast of Africa. 


388 


ACTS 27 


Paul Cheers Them All 


“ Men, you ought to have listened to me, and not 
have set sail from Crete, and so have spared your- 

22 selves this injury and loss. But now take courage. 
There will be no loss of life among you, but only 

23 of the ship, for last night an angel of the God whose 
I am and whom I serve, stood by me and said: 

24 ‘Fear not, Paul; you must stand before Cesar. 
Behold, God has granted you the lives of all who 
are sailing with you.’ 

25 “So take courage, men! I believe God, I believe 
that things will turn out exactly as it has been told 

26 me. But we must be cast upon a certain island.” 


They Drift Near Land 


27 It was now the fourteenth night, and we were 
drifting through the Adriatic Sea when, about mid- 
night, the sailors began to suspect that they were 

28 drawing near to some land. So they sounded and 
found twenty fathoms; and after a little they 

29 sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms. Then, 
fearing lest we should run ashore on the rocks, they 
threw out four anchors from the stern, and longed 

30 for day to come. And when the sailors were trying 
to flee from the ship, and had lowered the boat into 
the sea under pretext of laying anchors from the 

31 bow, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, 

“ Unless these men remain on the ship, you can- 
not be saved.” 

32 Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the ship’s boat 
and let her fall off. 


Paul Persuades Them to Eat 


33 And while day was dawning, Paul kept urging 
them all to take some food: 

“This is the fourteenth day,” he said, ‘‘ that you 

have been on the watch, fasting, having eaten noth- 

34 ing. So I beg you to take some food, for this is for 

your safety. For there shall not a hair perish from 
the head of any one of you.” 

35 When he had so said and had taken bread, he 


389 


ACTS 28 


gave thanks to God before them all, and broke it 
36 and began to eat. Then they all cheered up and 
37 themselves took food. There were in the ship two 
38 hundred and seventy-six souls, all told. After eat- 
ing a hearty meal, they began to lighten the ship by 
throwing the wheat overboard. 


The Ship Founders 


39 When it was day they tried in vain to recognize 
the land, but they spied an inlet with a sandy beach, 
and they began conferring to see’whether they could 

40 drive the ship into it. They cast off the anchors and 
left them in the sea, and unloosing at the same time 
the ropes that tied the rudders, they hoisted the fore- 

41 sail to the breeze, and headed for the beach. But 
coming to a place where two seas met, they ran the 
ship aground; the bow struck and remained fixed, 
but the stern began to break up under the violence 
of the waves. 


They Land at Malta 


42 Now the soldiers were planning to kill the prison- 
ers, lest any of them should swim off and so escape. 

43 But the centurion kept them from their purpose, 
because he wished to save Paul. He gave orders 
that those who could swim should first jump over- 

44 board and get to land; and that the rest should 
follow, some on planks and some on other bits of 
wreckage. And so it came to pass that all escaped 
safe to the land. 


XXVIII 


PAUL COMES TO ROME 


Paul Shakes Off a Viper 


1 And when we were escaped, we ascertained that 
2 the island was called Malta. The foreign-speaking 
people showed us uncommon kindness, for they 
lighted a fire and made us all welcome, because of 
3 the rain and because of the cold. Now when Paul 
had gathered a bundle of sticks and thrown them on 


390 


———— 4 es ee 


ACTS 28 


the fire, a viper crawled out because of the heat, 

4 and fastened on his hand. When the natives saw 
the reptile hanging on his hand, they began saying 
to one another, 

“ No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though 
he has escaped from the sea, yet justice does not 
allow him to live.” 

5 However, he shook off the reptile into the fire 

6 and received no harm. But they kept expecting 
him to swell up or fall down dead suddenly. But 
after waiting a long time, and seeing no harm come 
to him, they changed their minds, and said over 
and over that he was a god. 


The Father of Publius Healed 


7 Now in the neighborhood there were estates be- 
longing to the governor of the island, whose name 
was Publius. He received us and entertained us 

8 for three days courteously. It happened however 
that the father of Publius was lying ill of fever and 
dysentery. So Paul went to see him and prayed 

.9 and laid his hands on him and healed him. After 
this all the other sick people on the island came, 

10 and continued to be restored to health. These 
loaded us with many honors and, when at last we 
set sail, they put on board such things as we needed. 


They Get to Rome 


11 Three months passed before we set sail in an 
Alexandrian ship which had wintered in the island. 

12 Its name was “ The Twin Brothers.” And touch- 

13 ing at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. From 
thence, tacking round, we reached Rhegium. Next 
day a south wind sprang up, which brought us in 

14 a day to Puteoli. There we found brothers who in- 
vited us to stay a week with them. Then we reached 
Rome. 


Paul Gets Lodgings 


15 From there the brothers, when they heard about us, 
came out to meet us as far as the Appian Forum 
and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them he 


391 


ACTS 28 


16 thanked God and took courage. When we finally 
entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself 
with the soldier to guard him. 


Paul Speaks to the Jews 


17 Now three days later he called the leading Jews 
together, and when they were come together he 
said to them: 

“ Brothers, I was delivered a prisoner from Jeru- 
salem into the hands of the Romans, though I had 
done nothing against the people or the customs of 

18 your fathers. Then when they had examined me 
they wanted to set me at liberty because there was 

19 no cause of death in me. But when the Jews ob- 
jected I was forced to appeal to Cesar, not that I 

20 had anything to accuse my nation of. This is the 
reason why I begged you to see and speak with 
me. For because of the hope of Israel I am bound 
with this chain.” 


“Everywhere Spoken Against ” 


21 They said to him: 
“We neither received any letters about you from 
Judea nor has any brother come hither to report 
22 or speak any harm of you. But we are eager to 
hear from you what it is that you believe; for we 
all know that as for this sect it is everywhere 
spoken against.” 


Paul’s Sermon 


23. So they arranged a day with him and came to 
him in his lodgings in great numbers. He ex- 
pounded the matter to them; testifying to the king- 
dom of God, and persuading them about Jesus, from 
morning till evening, both from the Law of Moses 

24 and from the Prophets. Some began to believe 

25 what he said, but some were unbelieving. Unable 
to agree among themselves, they began to go, but 
not before Paul had spoken a word to them, saying: 

“Right well did the Holy Spirit say to your an- 
cestors, through the prophet Isaiah: 


392 


ACTS 28 


26 “Go to the people and tell them, 


You will hear and hear, and by no means under- 
stand; 

And will look and look, and by no means see. 

For this people’s heart 1s grown obtuse, 

Their ears are heavy of hearing, 

Their eyes have they closed, 

Lest they should see with their eyes 

And hear with their ears, 

Lest they understand with their heart, 

And turn again, and I heal them.* 

“ Be fully assured, therefore, that this salvation 

of God is now sent unto the Gentiles. They will 

listen to it.” ? 


Two Years at Rome 


After this Paul lived for two whole years in his 
own rented house, and used to receive all who came 


31 to see him. He continued to preach the kingdom of 


God, and to teach about the Lord Jesus Christ with 
all boldness, quite unmolested. 


Sire oS Be alae 
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THE FOUR 
PILLAR EPISTLES 


PAUL’s four letters to the Romans, the Corinthians, 
and the Galatians have been called the Pillar Epistles 
because of the unanimity with which critics of all 
schools acknowledge their authenticity. It is agreed 
that they were all written by Paul at about the time 
usually assigned to them. Since they are all early 
letters their evidential value rerarding the beliefs and 
practises common to the apostolic church is very great; 
hence they are called “The Pillar Epistles.” The 
probable order of their composition is Galatians, First 
Corinthians, Second Corinthians, Romans. 


PAUL’S LETTER 
TO THE 


ROMANS 


Authorship and Date: Written by Paul during his stay — 
at Corinth, while on his third — 
missionary journey, about 56 — 
Ae): 


Addressed to: The Christian Church in Rome, 
in anticipation of a journey 
which he expects to take to ~ 
Rome on his way to Spain. 


Characteristics: It was written for the purpose 
of making to believers who 
had a background of Jewish 
learning, a clear statement of — 
the relation between Law and | 
Gospel, and of the finality and | 
supremacy of Christ. 

It has been called the profound- 
est work of the human spirit. 
What was in germ in Galatians — 
is here stated with a fulness — 
and splendor that leaves noth- 

ing to be said. 

Tholuck calls the letter “A 
Christian Philosophy of Uni- 
versal History.” 

Coleridge calls it “ the most pro- 
found work in existence.” 





1 
2 


PAUL’S LETTER TO THE ROMANS 


SALUTATION 


From Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, called to be 
an apostle, set apart for a gospel of God, which 
through his prophets he promised beforetime, in 
holy writings; this gospel is concerning his Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of David’s 
posterity in respect of his bodily nature, but was by 
his resurrection from the dead instated as Son of 
God, with power, in respect of his spirit of holi- 
ness. It is through him, even Jesus Christ our 
Lord, that I received grace and apostleship to pro- 
mote obedience to the faith among all the Gentiles, 
for his name’s sake; among whom you also are 
called to be Jesus Christ’s: 

To all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to 
be saints: 

May God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, 
bless you, and give you peace. 


8 
9 


10 


11 


12 


13 


14 


16 


if 


ROMANS I 


I 


SIN AND SALVATION 


Thanksgiving 

First I thank my God, through Jesus Christ, for 
all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed 
throughout all the world. God is my witness, to 
whom I render holy service in my spirit in the gos- 
pel of his Son, how unceasingly I am ever making 
mention of you in my prayers, always entreating 
him that now at length, if such be his will, the 
way may be made clear for me to come to you. 
For I am longing so to see you, in order to impart 
to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be 
established; that is, that I with you may be en- 
couraged by you, each of us by the other’s faith, 
yours and mine. 


He Plans to Come to Them 


I want you to know, brothers, that many a tims 
I have planned to come to you—though until now 1 
have been hindered—so as to have some harvest- 
fruit among you also, even as I have among the 
rest of the Gentiles. To Greeks and to barbarians, 
to the cultured and to uncultured, I have a debt 


5 to discharge. So much as in me is, I am ready to 


preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 


PAUL’S THESIS 


The Gospel, the Power of God 


For I AM PROUD OF THE GOSPEL. IT 18 Gop’s 
SAVING POWER FOR EVERY ONE WHO BELIEVES, FOR THE 
JEW FIRST, AND ALSO FOR THE GENTILE. For IN IT 
IS BEING REVEALED A RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH PROCEEDS 
FROM GOD, FROM FAITH UNTO FAITH; AS IT IS 
WRITTEN, 

Now by faith shall the righteous lives 


1 Habs 2-3 4: 


400 


ae 


18 


19 


20 


21 


22 
23 


24 


25 
26 


27 


28 


ROMANS i 


God May Be Known in His Creation 


For God’s wrath is ever being revealed from 
heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness 
of men who smother the truth by their unrighteous- 
ness. This is so because that which may be known 
of God is manifest among them; for God has made 
it manifest to them. For ever since the creation of 
the world his invisible nature, even his everlasting 
power and divinity, has been clearly seen, being 
perceived through the things that are made. So 
they have no excuse. 


The Folly of Idolatry : 


For although they knew God, yet they did not 
glorify him as God, nor give him thanks; but be- 
came vain in their reasoning, and their senseless 
minds were darkened. While they professed to be 
wise, they became fools, and exchanged the majesty 
of the imperishable God for an idol, graven in the 
likeness of perishable man, or of birds and four- 
footed beasts and creeping things. 


The Depths of Paganism 

So God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to 
impurity, to the dishonoring of their own bodies; 
because they exchanged the truth of God for an un- 
truth, and worshiped and served the creature, rather 
than the Creator who is blessed forever. Amen. 
That is why God has given them up to passions of 
dishonor; for on the one hand their women actually 
changed the natural function of sex into that which 
is against nature; and on the other hand their men 
likewise abandoned the natural use of women, and 
were ablaze with passion for one another; men’ 
with men practising shameless acts, and receiving 
in their own person that recompense of their wrong- 
doing which necessarily followed. 


A “ Close-up ” of Sin 


And just as they refused to continue to retain God 
in their knowledge, so did God cast them out to an 


401 


ROMANS 2 


outcast mind, to do those things which were in- 
29 decent. They were overflowing with every kind of 
iniquity, depravity, greed, and malice. They were 
full of envy, murder, quarreling, deceit; and malig- 
30 nity. They became whisperers, back-biters, hated 
of God, insolent, haughty, boastful: They invented 
31 sins. They were disobedient to parents. They were 
without sense, without faith, without natural af- 
32 fection, without mercy. Though they knew well the 
ordinance of God, that those who practise such vices 
are worthy of death, they not only continued to do 
the same, but were even applauding those who prac- 
tise vice. 


II 
THE JEWS ALSO HAVE MISSED THE MARK 


Sinners Must Not Sit in Judgment 


1 You are therefore inexcusable, O man, whoever 
you are, that sits in judgment; for in judging an- 
other you are condemning yourself. You, the judge, 
are habitually practising the very same things. 

2 “We know that God’s judgment against. those 
who practise such vices is in accord with the truth,” 

3 you say? Very well; and do you, suppose, you 
who judge those that practise such vices, and are 
doing the very same, that you will elude the judg- 

4 ment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his 
kindness and forbearance and long patience? Do 
you not know that the kindness of God is leading 
you to repentance? 


Judgment Will Be for All; Jews as Well as Gentiles 
5 In your hardness and impenitence of heart you 
are treasuring up for yourself wrath on the Day 


of Wrath, when the righteous judgment of God is 
6 revealed. For 


He will render to every man according to. his 
works ; + 


1 PS 6HTS Vs. 


402 





oO =] 


10 


15 


16 


17 
18 


19 
20 


he 


22 


23 


ROMANS 2 


eternal life to those who by patience in well-doing 
strive for glory and honor and immortality; but 
anger and wrath upon those who are self-willed and 
disobey the truth, but obey unrighteousness. Anguish 
and calamity will be upon every soul of man who 
practises evil, upon the Jew first, and also upon the 
Gentile; but glory and honor and peace to every 
man who does good, to the Jew first, and also to 
the Gentile. For there is no partiality with God. 


Impartial Justice for All 


For all who have sinned without law will also 
perish without law; and all who have sinned under 
law will be judged by law. For it is not the hearers 
of law who are righteous in the eyes of God; nay, 
it is the doers of law who will be accounted right- 
eous. For when Gentiles, who have no law, obey by 
natural instinct the commands of the Law, they 
even though they have no law, are a law to them- 
selves. For they show that the work of the Law 
is written in their hearts, while their conscience 
bears them witness, as their reasonings accuse, 
or it may be defend, them, in the day when God 
will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, 
according to my gospel. 


The Self-confidence of the Orthodox 


Now if you bear the name of a Jew, and rely 
upon law, and boast yourself in God, and know his 
will, and can test the things that differ; if you are 
instructed out of the Law, and are confident that 
you yourself are a guide of the blind, a lght to 
those who are in darkness, an instructor of the 
foolish, a teacher of the young, because you have 
in the Law the form of knowledge and of the truth— 
well then, you who are teaching others, do you 
ever teach yourself? You who are preaching that 
a man should not steal, do you practise theft? 
You who keep saying that a man should not com- 
mit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who 
hold idols in abhorrence, are you plundering their 
temples? You who are making your boast in the 


403 


24 


25 


26 


27 


28 


29 


(ou) 


Ho 


ROMANS 3 


Law, do you habitually dishonor God through your 
transgressions of the Law? For the name of God 
is continually blasphemed among the Gentiles be- 
cause of you, even as the Scripture itself says.” 


The Real Circumcision, Spiritual 


Circumcision does indeed profit, if you are obe- 
dient to the Law; but if you habitually break the 
Law, your circumcision is become uncircumcision. 
So if the uncircumcised keeps the ordinance of the 
Law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned 
equivalent to circumcision. And shall not those who 
are physically uncircumcised, but who keep the 
Law, condemn you who are a breaker of the Law, 
although you have a written law and circumcision? 
For the real Jew. is not the man who is one out- 
wardly, and the real circumcision is not outward 
in the flesh; but the real Jew is one inwardly, and 
real circumcision is heart-circumcision, spiritual, not 
literal, praised not by men, but by God. 


21 SQ oe his 
Ill 


GENTILES AND JEWS ALIKE SHUT UP TO 
SALVATION BY FAITH 


AN ARGUMENT BY QUESTIONS 


1. What Good, Then, to Be a Jew? 


What special privilege, then, has the Jew? Or 
what is the use of circumcision? Much in every 
way. First of all, because to them were entrusted 
the oracles of God. Supposing some of them have 
proved faithless? Shall their want of faith nullify 
God’s faithfulness? By no means! Be sure that 
God is ever true, though all mankind prove false. 
As it is written, 

That thou mayest be found just in thine argument, 
And gain thy cause when thou. contendest.* 


HPSS 49 (116 214: 
404 


5 


ROMANS 3 


2. Is God Unrighteous? 


But if our unrighteousness thus brings out God’s 


righteousness, what shall we say? Is God unright- 
eous—I speak after the manner of men—when he in- 


6 flicts his anger on us? Be it far from us; for in 
7 that case how could God judge the world? But if 


by a falsehood of mine the truthfulness of God has 
been made to redound to his glory, why am I still 


8 tried as a sinner? And why not say (as I myself 


4] 


am slanderously reported to say), ‘‘ Let us do evil 
that good may come out of it’? Such arguments 
are rightly condemned. 


3. Has a Jew No Advantage? 


What then? Are we Jews in a better position? 


Not at all, for I have already charged all, both 


10 Jews and Gentiles, with being under sin. As it is 


11 
12 


13 


19 


written: 


There is none righteous, no, not one; 

There is none that understands, none that seeks 
for God! 

All have swerved from the right path; 

Every one of them has become corrupt. 

There is none that practises good, no, not one.” 

Their throat is an open grave; 

With their tongues they have used déceit.* 

The venom of asps is under their lips.* 

Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.® 

Their feet are swift to shed blood. 

Destruction and ruin are in their paths; 

And the path of peace they have not known.® 

Reverence for God is not before their eyes.’ 


Jews Are Included in the Arraignment 


Now we know that whatever the Law says, it 


speaks to those who are under the Law; so that 
every mouth may be shut, and that all the world 


20 may be brought under the judgment of God. For 


21Ps. 14 21-3. DIES AMY eT 
Ps. 5 : 9, 20 Gt: aa yO 
4Ps. 140 : 38. MPs SG1% ae 


405 


21 


22 


23 


24 
25 


26 


27 


28 


29 
30 


31 


ROMANS 3 


no man will be justified in God’s sight by works 
of the Law; for through the Law comes the con- 
sciousness of sin. 


The Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World 


But now, quite apart from any law, a righteous- 
ness coming from God has been fully brought to 
light, continually witnessed to by the Law and the 
Prophets. I mean a righteousness coming from 
God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all who 
believe. For there is no distinction between Jew 
and Gentile, since all have sinned and lack the glory 
which comes from God; but they are now being 
justified by his free grace through the deliver- 
ance that is in Christ Jesus. For God openly set 
him forth for himself as an offering of atonement * 
through faith, by means of his blood, in order to 
show forth his righteousness—since in his forbear- 
ance he had passed over the sins previously com- 
mitted—to show forth his righteousness, I say, at 
this present time; that he himself might be just, 
and yet the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus. 


Boasting Shut Out 


Then what becomes of boasting? It is shut out. 
What sort of law forbids it? A law of works? No, 
but a law of faith. For I conclude that a man is 
justified by faith, altogether apart from the deeds 
of the Law. 


One God of One Salvation 


Is God then the God of the Jews alone, and not 
of the Gentiles also? He is God of the Gentiles 
also, since there is one God who will justify the cir- 
cumeised through faith, and by their faith will 
he justify the uncircumcised. Do we then render 
law invalid through faith? Certainly not; on the 
contrary we make it stand. 


8 The Greek word idagrjprov is often found in inscriptions 
in the sense of a votive gift or offering. God thus makes 
Christ his votive gift for the world. 


406 


NSD 


Oo "On 


9 


10 


12 


ROMANS 4 


IV 


ABRAHAM’S FAITH AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE 


His Faith, Not His Works, Acceptable 


What then shall we say of Abraham, our ances- 
tor in the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by 
works, he has something to be proud of, but not 
before God. For what does Scripture say? 

And Abraham believed God, and it was set down 
to his account as righteousness.* 

Now if a man earn his pay by his work, it is not 
counted to him as a favor, but it is paid him as a 
debt; but a man who does not “ work,” but believes 
in him who justifies the ungodly, has his faith 
imputed to him for righteousness. Just as David 
also speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom 
God imputes righteousness apart from actions. 
Blessed: [he says] are they whose iniquities have 
been forgiven, 
And whose sins have been covered. 
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not im- 
pute sin.’ 


The Blessing Not Dependent on Circumcision 


Is this blessing, then, for the circumcised alone? 
or for the uncircumcised also? Abraham’s faith, 
I say, was imputed to him for righteousness.” How 
then was it imputed to him? When he was cir- 
cumcised? or uncircumcised? Not in circumcision, 
but in uncircumcision; and he received circumcision 
as a sign, a seal of the faith-righteousness which 
he had while he was in uncircumcision; in order 
that he might be the father of all who believe, even 
though they are uncircumcised; so that righteous- 
ness might be imputed to them. He is the father 
of circumcision to those who are not merely circum- 
cised, but who also walk in the steps of that faith 
of our father Abraham which he held while he was 
as yet uncircumcised. 


1Gen. 15: 6. dey Wri i ®Gen. 15 : 6. 
407 


13 
14 
15 


16 


17 


18 


ue 


20 
21 


22 
28 


24 


25 


ROMANS 4 


The Promise Not Dependent on the Law 


For the promise that he should be heir of the 
world did not come to Abraham or to his posterity 
through law, but through faith-righteousness. For 
if those who are righteous through law are heirs, 
faith is empty and the promise becomes void. For 
law works wrath; but where there is no law, neither 
is there transgression. This is why righteousness 
is of faith, that it may be a free gift; so that the 
promise stands firm to all Abraham’s posterity; not 
to his children of the Law alone, but also to the 
children of his faith. For in the sight of the God 
in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead, and 
calls into being that which is not, Abraham is the 
father of us all [both Jews and Gentiles], as it is 
written, 

I have made you a father of many nations.* 


The Promise a Great Hope to All the Faithful 


For Abraham, hoping against hope, had faith to 
the end that he might become a father of many 
nations, according to that which had been spoken, 

So numberless shall your descendants be. 
Though he was about a hundred years old, his faith 
did not fail him when he regarded his own’ body, 
now as good as dead, and remembered Sarah’s 
barrenness. Nor did he with regard to the prom- 
ise of God waver in unbelief, but he waxed strong 
in faith, while he gave God glory, and was fully 
persuaded that what God had promised, he was 
able also to perform. And so his faith was reckoned 
to hum for righteousness... Now these words were 
not written simply for his sake, but for us as well. 
For it will be “reckoned for righteousness ” to us 
also, who believe on him that raised from the dead 
our Lord Jesus; who was betrayed to death for 
our transgressions, and raised again to life for our 
justification. 


Gen. 17 : 
5Gen. 15: 
6Gen. 15: 


408 


> OT Ol 


1 
2 


10 


11 


12 


ROMANS 5 


V 
THE GLORIOUS FRUITS OF FAITH 


The Riches in Christ 


Since we stand justified as the result of faith, let 
us continue to enjoy the peace we have with God 
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him also 
we have had our access into this grace in which we 
have taken our stand, and are exulting in hope of 
the glory of God. And not only so, but we are ac- 
tually exulting also even in our troubles; for we 
know that trouble works fortitude, and fortitude 
character, and character, hope—a hope which never 
disappoints us. For through the Holy Spirit who 
has been given. to us, the “brimming river of the 
love of God ’”’* has overflowed in our hearts. 

For while we were still without strength, Christ 
died in due time for the ungodly. Why, a man will 
hardly give his life for another, even for a right- 
eous man, though perchance for a good man one 
might even take it upon himself to die. But God 
gives proof of his love to us by the fact that while 
we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 


That Litthe More, and How Much It Is 


By how much more, then, being now justified in 
his blood, shall we be saved through him from the 
wrath of God. For if, when we were God’s ene- 
mies, we were reconciled to him through the death 
of his Son, how much more, now that we are recon- 
ciled, shall we be saved in his life. And not only 
that, but we exult in God through our Lord Jesus 
Christ, through whom we have now obtained our 
reconciliation. 


While Death Came Through Adam 


Thus, then, sin came into the world through one 
man, and through sin came death; and so death 


1 Arthur S. Way. 
409 


13 


14 


15 


16 


Bs 


18 


19 


20 
21 


ROMANS 5 


spread to all men, because all had sinned. For 
prior to the Law, sin actually existed in the world, 
but sin was not set down to man’s account when 
there was no law. Nevertheless from Adam to 
Moses death reigned as king, even over those who 
had not sinned after the likeness of Adam’s trans- 
gression. Now Adam is a type of Him who was 
to come. 


Through Christ Comes Redemption 


But the free gift is not like the transgression; 
for if through the transgression of that one man 
the rest of men died, much more did the grace of 
God and the gift given in his grace in the one 
Man, Jesus Christ, overflow unto the rest of men. 
And it is not with the free gift as it was through 
the one that sinned; for the judgment came from 
one transgression unto condemnation; but the free 
gitt came from many transgressions unto acquittal. 
For if through the transgression of the one, death 
reigned as king through the one, much more shall 
those who receive the overflowing grace and gift 
of righteousness reign as kings in life through One, 
through Jesus Christ. 


Through Christ Comes Acquittal 


It follows then, as through the transgression of 
one man came condemnation unto all men, even so 
through the act of righteousness of One came ac- 
quittal and life to all men. For just as through 
the disobedience of one man the rest were made 
sinners; even so by the obedience of One shall all 
the rest be made righteous. , 

Now law was brought in so that transgression 
might abound; but where sin abounded, grace super- 
abounded; in order that as sin has ruled as king in 
death, so also grace might rule as king in righteous- 
ness which issues in eternal life, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord,—ours! 


410 


1 


2 
3 


10 


11 


14 


ROMANS 6 


Vi 
FROM FAITH FLOWS A NEW CHARACTER 


Sin Put to Death by the New Life 


What then shall we say? Shall we continue to 
abound in sin, in order that grace may come to 
abound? No indeed; how shall we who have died 
to sin still go on living in it any longer? For do 
you not know that all of us who have been baptized 
into Jesus Christ, have been baptized into his death’? 
We have been buried together with him, then, 
through baptism into his death, in order that just 
as Christ was raised from the dead through the 
glory of the Father, so also we should live in a 
newness of life. For if we have become united 
with him in the likeness of his death, so we shall 
also be united with him in the likeness of his resur- 
rection. For this we know, that our old self was 
crucified with Christ, in order that the slave’ of 
sin might be destroyed; so that we should no longer 
be in slavery to sin—for he who is dead is set free 
from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we 
believe that we shall also live with him; knowing 
that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no 
more; death has no more dominion over him. For 
the death that he died, he died unto sin once for 
all; but the life that he lives he is living unto God. 
Even so count yourselves also to be dead unto sin, 
but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. 


Sin Deposed in the New Life 


Therefore let not sin rule as king in your mortal 
body, compelling you to obey its lusts. Do not 
continue to present any part of your body to sin to 
be used as a weapon of unrighteousness. On the 
contrary, be presenting yourselves to God, as alive 
from the dead, and the various parts of your bodies 
to be used as weapons of righteousness. For sin 


1The Greek word céua, ‘ body,” is a term often used for 
“a slave.’”? That seems to be its sense here. 


411 


15 


16 


17 


18 


19 


20 
21 


22 


23 


1 


ROMANS 7 


shall not lord it over you; for you are not under 
the rule of law, but under the rule of grace. 


Set Free from Sin, to Become Slaves of Righteousness 

What then? Shall we commit an act of sin be- 
cause we are not under law, but under grace? Cer- 
tainly not. Do you not know that when you sur- 
render yourselves as slaves to any one to obey him, 
you are his slaves whom you obey; whether it be 
sin, whose end is death, or obedience, whose end is 
righteousness? But God be thanked that you who 
were once the slaves of sin have obeyed from your 
hearts that type of teaching to which you were 
appointed; and being set free from sin, you became 
the slaves of righteousness—I speak in these homely 
figures because of the weakness of your fleshly 
nature—just as you once surrendered your faculties 
into slavery to impurity and to all lawlessness, so 
now you must surrender your faculties into slavery 
to righteousness, unto deeds of holiness. For when 
you were the slaves of sin, you were under no 
subjection to righteousness. What harvest-fruit 
then had you at that time in the things of which you 
are now ashamed? For the end of those things is 
death. But now that you have been set free from 
sin and become slaves of God, the harvest-fruit 
which you are reaping tends to produce holiness, 
and its end is life eternal. For THE POOR WAGES OF 
SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL 
LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS, OUR MASTER. 


Vil 
THE NEW LIFE NOT A LIFE OF RULES 


The Law of Marriage Limited by Death 

Surely, brothers, you know (for I am speaking 
to those who know what law means) that law 
governs a person only during his lifetime? For 
a married woman who has a husband is bound by 
law to her husband during his lifetime; but if her 
husband dies, she is released from the law of her 


412 


ROMANS 7 


8 husband. So then, if during her husband’s lifetime, 
she unites herself with another man, she will be 
counted an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she 
is free from the Law, so that she is no adulteress, 
even if she unites herself with another man. 


So Christ Frees Us from Law 


4 So also, my brother, you were made dead to the 
Law through the body of -Christ; that you should 
be joined to another, even to Him who was raised 
from the dead that we might bear fruit for God. 

5 For while we were unspiritual, the sinful passions, 
aroused by the Law, were ever active in every part 
of our bodies, leading us to bear fruit unto death. 

6 But now we have been released from the Law, be- 
cause we are dead to that in which we were held; 
so that we are now in thraldom in new and spiritual 
conditions, and not under the old written code. 


The Law Is Good 


7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Cer- 
tainly not. On the contrary I should not have be- 
come acquainted with sin had it not been for the 
Law; for except the Law had repeatedly said, “‘ Thou 
shalt not lust,” I should never have known the sin 

8 of lust. But when sin had gained a vantage-ground, 
by means of the commandment, it stirred up within 
me all manner of lust; for where there is no law, 

9 sin is dead. Once I lived apart from the Law, my- 
self; but when the commandment came, sin revived, 

10 and I died; and the very commandment which should 

11 have meant life, this I found to mean death. For 
sin, when it had gained a vantage-ground through 
the commandment, beguiled me, and through it 
slew me. 

12 So then the Law is holy, and the commandment 

13 is holy and righteous and good. Did then that 
which was good become for me death? Never! 
but sin did; that it might be manifest as sin, by 
working death to me through that which is good; 
that the unutterable malignity of sin might be- 
come plain through the commandment. 


413 


24 
25 


i 
2 


3 


ROMANS 8 


I Feel Two Natures Struggling Within Me? 


For we know that the Law is spiritual; but as 
for me, I am a creature of flesh, bought and sold 
under the dominion of sin. For what I perform I 
know not; what I practise is not what I intend to 
do, but what I detest, that I habitually do. If then 
I habitually do what 1 do not intend to do, I am 
consenting to the Law, that it is right. And now 
it is no longer I myself who do the deed, but it is 
sin which has its home in me. For 1 know that in 
me, that is in my flesh, no good thing has its home; 
for while to will is present with me, to carry out 
that which is right is not. For the good that I 
intend to do, I do not; but the evil which I do not 
intend to do, that I am ever practising. But if I do 
the very thing I do not intend to do, it is no more 
I who practise it, but sin which has its home in me. 
I find, then, this law, that when I intend to do good, 
evil is ever present with me. For in my inmost 
self I delight in the law of God; but I find a dif- 
ferent law in my bodily faculties, waging war with 
the law of my will, and taking me prisoner to 
that law of sin which is in my bodily faculties. 
Oh, wretched man that Iam! Who shall deliver me 
from this slave of death? Oh, thank God! it is 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I myself 
in my will am in thraldom to the law of God; yet 
in my animal nature I am in thraldom to the law 
of sin. 


VIII 
THE GLORIOUS FREEDOM OF THE GOSPEL 


Living in the Spirit 

Thus there is now no condemnation to those who 
are in Christ Jesus; for the law of the spirit of 
life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law 
of sin and of death. For God has done what the 
Law could not do, weakened as it was by the flesh. 
By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful 


414 


ee 


4 


5 


9 


10 


11 


12 


13 


ROMANS 8 


flesh, and on account of sin, he condemned sin in 
the flesh; in order that the requirement of the Law 
might be fulfilled in us who order our lives not after 
the flesh, but after the spirit. 


Living in the Flesh 


For they who live after the flesh, give their atten- 
tion to the things of the flesh; 

But they who live after the spirit, give their at- 
tention to spiritual things. 

To be earthly minded means death; 

To be spiritually minded means life and peace. 

For to be earthly minded is enmity against God; 

For such a mind is not subject to the Law of God, 

Nor can it be; 

And they who are earthly minded cannot please 
God. 


The Spiritual Life God-given 


But you are not earthly, but spiritual, if indeed 
the spirit of God is really dwelling in you. If any 
one does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of 
his. But if Christ is in you, though your bodily self 
is dead because of sin, your spirit is full of life 
because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of 
Him who raised up Jesus from the dead is dwelling 
in you, He who raised up Christ Jesus from the 
dead will also make your dying bodily self live by 
his indwelling Spirit in your lives. Therefore, 
brothers, we are debtors—but not to the flesh, to 
live according to the flesh; for if you go on living 
according to the flesh, you are on the road to die; 
but if by the Spirit you keep putting to death the 
deeds of the body, you will live. 


- Ours Is No Spirit of Bondage 


14 
15 


16 


For only those are sons of God who are led by 
God’s Spirit. For you have not received a spirit 
of slavery in order that you should once more be 
afraid; but you have received a spirit of adoption, 
in which we cry out, ‘“ My Father, my dear Father! ” 
For his Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit, 


415 


17 


13 
19 
20 
21 


22 
23 


24 
25 


27 


28 


29 


ROMANS 8 


that we are children of God; and if children, then 
heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; 
but to share his glory, we must now be sharing his 
sufferings. 


The Whole Creation to Be Redeemed 


For I count as nothing what we now suffer, in 
comparison with the glory which will soon be 
unveiled to us. All nature even is waiting with 
eager longing for the unveiling of the vision of 
God’s sons. For nature was subjected to imperfec- 
tion, not by its own will, but by the will of Him 
who thus made it subject—yet not without the hope 
that some day nature itself also will be freed from 
the thraldom of decay, into the freedom which be- 
longs te the glory of the children of God. 


We Are Saved by Hope 


For we know that all nature has been groaning 
and travailing together until this hour. And not 
only that, we ourselves, although we are grasping 
the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves are 
inwardly groaning, while we are waiting for adop- 
tion, the redemption of our body. For by hope we 
are saved; but hope which is clearly seen is no 
longer hope. Who hopes for what he clearly sees? 
But if we hope for something that we do not see, 
we then patiently wait for it. 


The Spirit Prays for Us 


In the same way the Spirit also takes hold with 
us in our weakness; for we know not how to pray 
as we ought; but the Spirit himself intercedes for 
us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And 
the Searcher of Hearts knows what the Spirit’s 
meaning is, because his intercessions for the saints 
are according to the will of God. 


Called, Upheld, Glorified 


Now we know that all things continually work 
together for good to those who love God, to those 
who have been the called according to his purpose. 
For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be 


416 


ROMANS 8 


conformed to the likeness of his Son, so that he 


30 might be the eldest of a great brotherhood; and 


dL 


o2 


33 
o4 


35 


whom he foreordained, those he also called; and 
whom he cailed, those he also justified; and whom 
he justified, those he also glorified. 


A Canticle of the Breadth and Depth of the Love of God 


in Christ 


What shall we say then, to these things? 

If God be for us, 

Who can be against us? 

He that spared not his own Son, 

But freely delivered him up for us all, 

How shall he not with him also freely give us all 
things? 

Who shall accuse God’s elect? 

God acquits them; 

Who is there to condemn them? 

Will Christ who died? Yes, and who rose from 
the dead, 

The Christ who is also at the right hand of God, 

And is interceding for us? 

What shall separate us from the love of Christ? 

Shall anguish, or calamity, or persecution, or 
famine? 

Shall nakedness, or peril, or sword? 


386 Even as it is written: 


37 


38 


39 


For thy sake we are killed all the day long; 

We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter+ 

Nay, in all these things we are more than con- 
querors 

Through Him who loved us. 

For I am fully persuaded that neither death nor 
life, 

Neither angels nor principalities, nor powers, 

Neither the present world nor the world to come, 

Nor the powers of Nature, 

Nor height, nor depth, 

Nor any other created thing, 

Shall be able to separate us from the love of God 

Which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 


A Parad 2922: 
417 


ve 


2 
3 
4 


10 
11 


12 


ROMANS 9 


IX 


THE GREAT REFUSAL; THE UNBELIEF 
OF THE JEWS 


Paul’s Grief for His Fellow Jews 


I am speaking the truth in Christ, it is no lie. 
My conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit 
that I have deep sorrow and incessant anguish in 
my heart. For I was on the point of praying to be 
accursed from Christ on behalf of my brothers, my 
kinsmen according to the flesh. For they are Is- 
raelites; to them belong the sonship, the Shekinah 
glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law; the 
Service of the temple, and the promises; theirs are 
the patriarchs, and of them, as concerning the flesh, 
is Christ, who is over all, God, blessed forever, 
Amen, 


The Limitations of the Promises 


It is not, however, as though God’s word had 
failed! For they are not all Israel who have 
sprung from Israel; they are not all children of 
Abraham because they are Abraham’s descendants. 
The promise was, 

In Isaac shall thy posterity be called+ 
That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are 
children of God; but the children of the promise 
are counted as his posterity. For thus is the word 
of promise, 

According to this season I will come, and Sarah 
shall bear a son? . 

And not only so, but when Rebecca was pregnant 
by our forefather Isaac, though one man was the 
father of both children, and even though they were 
still unborn, and had done nothing either good or 
bad, in order that the purpose of God might stand 
according to election, not of works, but of Him who 


called, it was said to her, 
IGens 21) si T2! 
7Genmii8.% 10, 

418 


ROMANS 9 


The elder shall serve the younger. 
13 As it is written, 
Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.’ 


God’s Free-will of Purpose 


14. What shall we say then? that there is injustice 
15 with God? No indeed. His words to Moses are: 
I will have mercy on whom I choose to have 
mercy; 
I will have compassion on whom I choose to have 
compassion.” 
16 So then it is not a question of him who wills, nor of 
17 him who runs, but of God who has mercy. For the 
Scripture says to Pharaoh, 
It is for this very purpose that I have raised 
you up, 
To show in you my power, 
And to proclaim my name far and wide, in all the 
earth.® 
18 So then he has mercy on whom he will, and whom 
he will, he hardens. 


The Potter and the Clay 


19 Then you will say to me: ‘‘ Why does he still go 
on finding fault? Who can withstand his will?” 
20 Nay, but who are you, O man, that replies to God? 
Shall the thing formed say unto him who formed it, 
21 “ Why did you make me like this?” Or has not 
the potter power over the clay, to make out of 
the same lump one vessel for noble, and another for 
22 ignoble uses? But what if God, while intending to 
show forth his wrath, and to make known his 
power, yet endured, with much long-suffering, ves- 
23 sels of wrath, fitted to destruction? And what if he 
thus purposed to make known the riches of his glory 
upon vessels of mercy, which he had before pre- 


Genco wee. 
got BS hh i tpl 
’Hxod. 33 7.19; 
6 Hxod. 9: 16. 


419 


ROMANS 9 


24 pared for glory? Now such are we whom he has 
called, not only from among the Jews, but also from 
among the Gentiles. 


The Voice of Prophecy 


25 As he also said in Hosea: 
Those who were not my people 
I will call “my people,” 
And her “ beloved” who was not beloved; ’ 
26 And in that very spot where it was told them, 
“You are not my people,” 
There they shall be called “Sons of the living 
God.” * 
27 And in regard to Israel, Isaiah exclaims: 
Though the number of the sons of Israel be like 
the sands of the sea, it is but a remnant of those 
28 who shall be saved; for the Lord will execute his 
word upon the earth, finishing it and cutting it 
short.® 
29 Even as in an earlier passage, Isaiah says, 
Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us some few 
descendants, we should have become like Sodom, and 
should have fared like Gomorrah.” 


They Stumbled as They Ran 


30 What then shall we say? That Gentiles who 
never pursued righteousness have overtaken it, even 
21 the righteousness of faith? But that the descen- 
dants of Israel, who were in pursuit of a law of 
32 righteousness, did not arrive at that law? And 
why? Because they sought it not by faith, but 
thought to gain it by works. They stumbled at the 
83 stone of stumbling; even as it is written: 
Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a 
rock of offense; but he that believes on Him shall 
not be put to shame 


"Hosea 2 : 23. 
8 Hosea 1 : 10. 
WiSawel Ons YQeQ3" 


ADRES ak Dee 
cai H/T ee parti? Rah ASS athe Wa 
420 


EN ee 


if 
2 
3 


ROMANS 10 


Xx 


THE WORLD-WIDE DIFFUSION OF THE 
GOSPEL 


A Zeal for God Without Knowledge 


Brothers, the longing of my heart and my prayer 
to God is for my countrymen, that they may be 
saved. For I bear them witness that they have 
a zeal for God, only it is a zeal without knowledge. 
For because they were ignorant of God’s righteous- 
ness, and sought to establish their own righteous- 
ness, they did not submit themselves to the right- 
eousness of God. For to every believer Christ is 


an end of law as a means of righteousness. 


5 
6 


10 


11 


The Word Is Nigh Thee 


For Moses writes concerning the righteousness of 
the Law, saying, The man that doeth it shall live 
by it. But the righteousness of faith speaks in 
this way: 

Say not in thine heart, “Who shall ascend to 
heaven? ”—that is, to bring Christ down; nor, “ Who 
shall descend into the abyss? ’—that is, to bring 
Christ up from the dead. 

But what does it say? 

The word is near thee, even in thy mouth and in 
thy heart.* 


Confess and Believe 

That is the very word of faith which we preach: 
Confess with your mouth “ Jesus is Lord,” and be- 
lieve in your heart that God actually raised him 
from the dead, and you will be saved. For with 
the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with 
the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 


Salvation for All 


The Scriptures say, 
Whosoever believes in Him will not be put to 
shame.’ 


1 Deut. 30 : 12-14. 21 Sa. 28 9516: 
421 


ROMANS 10 


12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 
because the same Lord Jesus is over all, and is rich 
13 unto all who call upon Him; for 
Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord 
will be saved.* 


Solemn Questions of the Gospel 


14 How then shall they call upon Him in whom they 
do not believe? And how are they to believe in 
One of whom they have never heard? And how 

15 shall they hear without a preacher? And how can 
men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring a 
glad gospel.* 


“Fly Abroad, Thou Mighty Gospel ” 


16 And yet they did not all hearken to the good 
news; for Isaiah said, 
Lord, who hath believed our message? ® 
17 So faith comes from a message heard, and the mes- 
18 sage comes from the teaching of Christ. But I 
ask, Did they fail to hear? Yes, truly, 
Their sound has gone out unto all the earth, 
And their words unto the ends of the world.® 
19 But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses says: 
I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is 
no nation; 
Against a Gentile nation, void of understanding, 
will I anger you.' 
20 But Isaiah speaks very boldly, 
I was found of those who were not seeking me, 
I was made manifest to those who were not ask- 
ing for me.® 
21 But to Israel he says, 
All day long I have been spreading out my hands 
unto a disobedient and contrary people.® 


BJO 32! *Deute 82-221. 
SISAMO 2, sul: 2 Ten Goto L. 
WMG Oa) oe. Lad bt lo ta Sead 
OP Salons D4. 


422 


| 
| 
' 
] 





1 
2 


7 
8 


a 


10 


ROMANS il 


XI 


THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL 


Israel Will Return 


Then I ask, Did God cast off his people? No in- 
deed. For I also am an Israelite, a son of Abra- 
ham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God did 
not cast off his people whom he foreknew. For do 
you not know what is said in the Scripture about 
Elijah? how he pleaded with God against Israel, 
saying, 

Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have 

overthrown thine altars; 

And now I alone am left, and they seek my life.’ 
But what was the answer of God to him? 

I have reserved, for myself seven thousand who 

have not bowed the knee to Baal.? 
In the same way also at this time there is a rem- 
nant chosen by gift of grace. But if it is by grace, 
it is no longer of works; or else grace. is no more 
grace. 


A Remnant Have Believed 


What then? that which Israel has been seeking 
for, that he has not obtained; but the chosen have 
obtained it, and the rest have been hardened. Ac- 
cording as it is written, 

God has given them a spirit of slumber, 

Eyes that they should not see, 

Kars that they should not hear, unto this day.* 
As David says: 

Let their table be made a snare and a trap, 

And a stumbling-block and a recompense unto 

them; 

Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, 

And bow thou down their backs forever.* 


11 Kings 19 : 10. 
21 Kings 19 : 18. 
3 Deut. 29: 4: 

SS OOM aa ae cvs 


423 


is 


12 


13 


14 
15 


16 


17 


18 


23 


ROMANS 11 


A Restoration Is to Follow 


I ask then, ‘ Have they stumbled so as to fall? ” 
No indeed; but by their lapse salvation has come 
unto the Gentiles, “to provoke Israel to jealousy.” 
Now if their stumbling enriches the world, and 
their loss enriches the Gentiles, how much more 
must their fulness do! 

For to you who are Gentiles I say that since I 
am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my minis- 
try, if by any means I might “ provoke to jealousy ” 
my kinsmen, and save some among them. For if 
their casting out is the reconciliation of the world 
to God, what will their restoration be but life out 
of death? 


Grafted Into the Holy Stock 


Now if the first-fruits of the dough [Abraham 
and the Patriarchs] are holy, so also is the whole 
mass* [their descendants]. And if the root of a 
tree [Abraham] is holy, so also are the branches 
[his descendants]. Supposing that some of the 
branches have been broken off, and you, although 
you were but a wild olive, have been grafted in 
among the branches and have become a partaker 
with them of the fatness of the olive tree, do not 
glory over the branches; or if you are glorying, 
remember that it is not you who uphold the root, 
but the root which upholds you. 

“Branches have been broken off,” you say, “‘ that 
I might be grafted in.” 


The Goodness and the Severity of God 


True, through their unbelief they were broken off, 
and by your faith you stand. Do not be puffed up, 
but fear; for if God spared not the natural branches, 
neither will he spare you. Fix your gaze, there- 
fore, on the goodness and the severity of God ; to- 
wards those who fell, severity, but towards you, 
God’s goodness, if you continue stedfast in his good- 
ness; otherwise you, too, will be cut off. And they 


Selaghens alas, aie 
424 


— ee 


 ~ se 


ROMANS 11 


aiso |those Jews], if they ao not continue in their 
unbelief, will be grafted in agzin; for God is able 

24 to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of 
that which is by nature a mere wild olive tree, and 
have been grafted, contrary to nature, into a fruit- 
ful olive tree, how much more sk 11 these, the 
natural branches, be regrafted into their own olive 
tree? 


One Purpose of Mercy to All 


25 For I would not, my brothers, have you ignorant 
of this hidden truth, for fear that you become wise 
in your own conceits: that a hardening in part has 

_ befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles is 

26 come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it 1” 
written: 

The deliverer will come from Zion, 

He will banish all ungodliness from Jacob; 
ay This is my covenant with them, 

When I shall take away their sins." 

28 In relation to the gospel, the Jews are God’s ene 
mies for your sake; but in relation to the election, 
they are dearly loved for their forefather’s sake. 

29 For no change of purpose can annul God’s free gift 

30 and call. And as in times past you were yourselves 
disobedient to God, but now, thanks to their dis- 

31 obedience, have obtained mercy; even so they alse 
have now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown 

32 to you they also may now obtain mercy. For God 
has locked up all in the prison of disobedience, that 
upon all he may have mercy. 


“I Sing the Mighty Power of God! ” 

33 Oh, the depths of the riches, both of the wisdom 
and the knowledge of God! How unfathomable are 
his judgments, and how unsearchable his paths! 

34 . Who has known the mind of the Lord? 

Or who has been his counsellor? * 

35 Who has first given to Him, 

So as to receive payment in return? ° 


Isa, 59°: 20, 21. 8 Isa. 40°: 135, 14. 
TIsai27 2 9. ®Job 35: 7; 41: 11. 


425 


36 


co 


Ot 


9 
10 


ROMANS 12 


For of him and through him, and for him, are all 
things. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. 


be 


XII 
IDEALS OF DAILY LIVING 


Surrender of Self, Reasonable 


I entreat you therefore, brothers, by the mercies 
of God, to present your bodies to Him as a living 
sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. This is your 
reasonable service of worship. And be not con- 
formed to this world, but be transformed by the 
renewing of your minds, so that you may prove 
what is the good and acceptable and perfect will 
of God. 


Christian Life a Cooperative Fellowship 


For, through the grace that was given to me, I 
tell every man among you not to think of himself 
more highly than he ought to think: but so to 
think, as to think soberly, according to the measure 
of faith which God has given him. For even as we 
have many members in one body, and not all mem- 
bers have the same function; so we, who are many, 
are one body in Christ, and we are severally mem- 
bers one of another. But we have gifts differing 
according to the grace which was given to us. He 
that has the gift of prophecy, let him prophesy 
according to the proportion of his faith. If it is 


the gift of administration, let us give ourselves to 


our service. Let the teacher give himself to his 
teaching; and he who exhorts others to his ex- 
hortation. He who gives, let him do it in singleness 
of mind. He who rules, let him rule with diligence; 
and he who shows mercy must be cheerful. 


How Love Manifests Itself 


Let love be without insincerity. Abhor what is 
evil; wed yourselves to what is good. As for 
brotherly love, be tenderly affectionate one to an- 


426 


17 
18 


EO 


20 


21 


1 


ROMANS 18 


other, in honor preferring one another. In your 
diligence be free from sloth. Be glowing in spirit. 
Slave for the Master. Rejoice in hope; be patient 
under affliction; continue stedfast in prayer. Be 
liberal to needy saints. Practise hospitality. Bless 
your persecutors, bless, and curse not. Rejoice with 
those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 
Have full sympathy with one another. Set not your 
minds on high affairs, but associate with lowly folk. 
Do not be wise in your own conceitts.* 


Love Does Not Avenge Itself 


Do not pay back evil for evil. Aim to do what is 
honorable in the eyes of all. If it be possible, so 
far as it lies with you, be at peace with all men. 
Never revenge yourself, beloved, but leave the field 
clear for God’s wrath; for it is written, 

“ Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord? 
On the contrary, therefore, ° 

If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is 
thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will 
be heaping burning coals on his head. 

Do not be overcome by evil, but be overcoming evil 
with good. 


pr TOVE sas 
2 Deut. 32": 35. 
APTOVY 25 +P5D4 | (22? 


XIII 
CHRISTIAN OBLIGATIONS TO THE STATE 


Duties of Citizens 


Every one should be in subjection to the higher 
authorities; for there is no authority apart from 
God. The authorities that now exist have been 
appointed by God. Therefore the man who rebels 
against authority is opposing the divine ordinances; 
and those who withstand will bring judgment on 
themselves. For rulers are no terror to good deeds, 
but to evil. Would you be fearless of the ruler’s 
authority? Do what is good, and you will have his 


427 


4 


6 


ROMANS 13 


praise. For the ruler is God’s minister appointed 
for your good. But if you are a wrong-doer, be 
afraid; he does not carry the sword to no purpose; 
he is God’s servant, appointed to vengeance upon 
the guilty. Wherefore you must needs be in sub- 
jection, not only because of fear, but also for con- 
science sake. 


Payment of Debts and Taxes 


This too, is the reason why you pay taxes; be- 
cause the authorities are ministers of God’s ser- 


_ vice, attending continually upon this very thing. 


10 


11 


12 


13 


Render to all their dues; taxes to whom taxes, cus- 
toms tc whom customs, respect to whom respect, 
and homage to whom homage is due. 


No Debt But Love 


Never owe any one anything save the debt of 
brotherly love; for he who loves his neighbor has 
fulfilled the Law. For the Law which says, 

Thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt do no 
murder, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear 
false witness, thou shalt not covet; 
and whatever other commandment there be—is all 
summed up in this one saying, 

Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 

Love never wrongs his neighbor; therefore love is 
the fulfilment of the Law. 


A Hymn of the Day of Christ 


Carry out these injunctions because you know the 
crisis that we are in, that now it is high time for 
you to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation 
nearer than when we first believed. 

The night is far spent; 

The day is at hand. 

Let us therefore take off the deeds of darkness, 

Let us put on the armor of light. 

Let us live honestly, as in the day, 

Not in reveling and drunkenness, 


1Hxod. 20 : 13-17. 
coh Drak nd oh uit iho d 


428 


ee a ? 


14 


1 
2 


3 


lor) 


ROMANS 14 


Not in lust and licentiousness, 

Not in strife and jealousy; 

But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, 
And make no provision for your earthly nature 
‘And the gratification of its lusts. 


XIV 
THE OBLIGATIONS TOWARD THE WEAK 


Restrictions on Christian Freedom 


Welcome a man of weak faith, but not for the 
purpose of deciding doubtful points. One man has 
faith to eat anything; but he whose faith is weak, 
eats only vegetables. He who eats meat must not 
despise the man who abstains; and let not the 
man who abstains judge him who eats; for God has 
received him. Who are you that judges the house- 
hold-servant of another? To his own lord he stands 
or falls. And stand he will, for his Master has 
power to make him stand. 


Many Men of Many Minds 


There are some who esteem one day above an- 
other; there are others who esteem all days alike; 
let each be fully persuaded in his own mind. He 
who regards the day, regards it unto his Lord; and 
he who regards it not, disregards it unto his Lord. 
He who eats meat, eats unto his Lord, for he gives 
God thanks; and he who abstains, abstains unto 
his Lord, since he, too, gives God thanks. 


But All Are Christ’s 


For not one of us lives unto himself, and not one 
dies unto himself. If we live, we live unto our 
Lord; if we die, we die unto our Lord. So then, 
whether we live or die, we belong to our Lord. 
For this purpose Christ. died and became alive 
again, that he might be the Lord both of the dead 
and of the living. 


429 


10 


if 


om 


12 


13 


14 


15 


16 


17 


18 


iN) 
20 


ROMANS 14 


We Must Not Judge 


But you [the abstainer], why do you pass judg- 
ment on*your brother? Or you again [the non-ab- 
stainer], why do you despise yours? For we shall 
all stand before the judgment-seat of God. For it 
is written, 

“As I lwe,”’ says the Lord, “to me every knee 
shall bow, 

And to God shall every tongue confess.” * 

So then each one of us shall give account of him- 
self to God. 


All Things Are Ceremonially Clean 


So let us no longer pass judgment on one an- 
other; rather let this be your judgment, that no one 
put a stumbling-block in his brother’s way, nor any 
cause of falling. I know and am persuaded in the 
Lord Jesus that nothing is in itself unclean; but 
any food is “unclean” for one who considers it 
“ unclean.” | 


But Not All Things Are Expedient 


If your brother is continually pained because of 
your food, you are not conducting yourself any 
longer in love. Do not, by what you eat, persist 
in destroying a man for whom Christ died. There- 
fore do not let what is right, so far as you are 
concerned, be evil spoken of. For the kingdom of 
God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but 
of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy 
Spirit. Those who are slaving for Christ devotedly 
in these ways, are well pleasing to God and highly 
commended by man. | 


All That Hinders to Be Sacrificed 


So then let us eagerly pursue the things that make 
for peace and the upbuilding of each other. Do not, 
for the sake of food, be tearing down God’s work. 
All food indeed is ceremonially clean, but a man is 
in the wrong if his food proves a stumbling-bleck. 


TIsav 45) 23: 
430 





21 


22 
23 


1 
2 
3 


8 


ROMANS 15 


The right course is not to eat meat, nor to drink 
wine, nor to do anything through which your brother 
is made to stumble. 


Whatever Is Not Faith Is Sin 

Have you faith? Keep it to yourself as in the 
presence of God. He is a happy man who does not 
condemn himself in that which he approves. But 
he who has misgivings, and yet eats meat, is con- 
demned already, because his action is not based on 
faith; and whatever is not based on faith is sin. 


XV 


THE SYMPATHY AND UNIVERSALITY OF 
CHRIST 


The Strong Must Uphold the Weak 


Now we who are strong ought to bear the in- 
firmities. of the weak, and not to seek our own 
pleasure. Let each one of us try to make his 
neighbor happy for his good, unto his upbuilding. 
For even Christ pleased not himself; but as it is 
written, 

The reproaches of those who were reproaching 

thee fell wpon me.* 
For everything that was written of old has been 
written for our instruction, that through patience, 
and through the comfort of the Scriptures, we 
might have hope. Now the God of patience and 
of comfort grant you to be in full sympathy with 
one another, in accordance with the example of 
Jesus Christ; so that with one heart and with one 
voice you may glorify the God and Father of our 
Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore always receive one 
another into fellowship, to the glory of God, even 
as Christ also received you. 


Christ Belongs to Jew and Gentile 


For I say that Christ has been made a minister 
of the Circumcision [the People of Israel], in vin- 


1Ps. 69: 9. 
431 


ROMANS 15 


dication of God’s truth, so that he may confirm the 
9 promises given to our forefathers; and so that the 
Gentiles also should praise God for his mercy, as 
it is written, 
Therefore I will offer praise to thee among the 
Gentiles, 
And sing to thy name. 
10 Or again, 
Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people? 
11 Or again, 
Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, 
And let all the people extol him.’ 
12 Or again, as Isaiah says: 
There shall be the root of Jesse, 
And he that arises to rule over the Gentiles; 
On him shall the Gentiles hope. 


Benediction 


13 Now the God of all hope fill you with all joy and 
peace in believing, that you may be overflowing with 
hope in the power of the Holy Spirit. 


2Ps. 180: 49) OBS. nies ick. 
SWeute ou. ston Das e ahah vedi IO, 


A POSTSCRIPT 


SOME PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS 


A Word of Personal Greeting 


14 And I myself also am confident regarding you, 
my brothers, that you yourselves are already full 
of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and well able 

15 to give advice to one another. Still I have written 
unto you the more boldly, in part, by way of. re- 
minding you, because of that gift of grace which 
God bestowed upon me, in making me a priest of 

16 Jesus Christ unto the Gentiles. I act as priest of 
the gospel of God; so that the Gentiles, when offered 
before him, may be an acceptable sacrifice, be- 

{7 cause consecrated by the Holy Spirit. I have then 


432 





18 
19 


20 


21 


22 
23 


24 


25 
26 


27 


28 


ROMANS 15 


my boast in Christ Jesus concerning the things of 
God. 


The Fruits of Paul’s Ministry 


For I will not dare to speak of any thing except 
that which Christ has done through me to bring 
the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, through 
the might of signs and wonders, in the power of 
the Holy Spirit. So that beginning at Jerusalem 
and its environs, I have proclaimed without reserve 
the gospel of Christ, even as far as Illyricum. 
My ambition has always been, however, to preach 
the gospel where Christ’s name was not already 
known, so that I might not build upon another 
man’s foundation. But, as Scripture says, 

He shall be seen by those to whom no news about 

him ever came, 

And those who have never heard of him shall 

understand. 


He Plans to Come to Rome 


This is why I have been so hindered from coming 
to you. But now, since I have no more any “ open- 
ing” in these parts, and since I have longed for 
many years to come to you whenever I go to Spain, 
I am hoping to see you on my way there, and to be 
set forward by you on my journey thither, after I 
have enjoyed your company for a little while, 


The Collection for the Poor in Jerusalem 


Just now I am going to Jerusalem to serve the 
saints. For it has been the good pleasure of Mace- 
donia and Achaia to make an offering for the 
poor among the saints at Jerusalem. Yes, it has 
been their good pleasure, and their debt, too. For 
if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their 
Spiritual riches, they owe it to them also to min- 
ister to them [the Jews] in worldly goods. When, 
therefore, I have settled this, and have secured to 
them [the poor at Jerusalem] the fruit of this 


©Isa. 52 :.15. 
438 


ROMANS 16 


29 collection, I shall come on by you into Spain. And I 
know that when I come to you, I shall come in the 
fulness of the blessing of Christ. 


Pray for Me 
30 Brothers, I beseech you, by Jesus Christ our Lord, 


q 
| 


, 


and by the love which the Spirit gives, to help me 

in my struggle by your prayers to God on my — 
31 behalf, that I may be delivered from the disobedient — 

in Judea; that my mission to Jerusalem may be © 


32 favorably received by the saints; and that I may 
come to you in joy, by the will of God, and find 

33 rest together with you. The God of peace be with 
you all! Amen. 


XVI 
SECOND POSTSCRIPT 


FINAL GREETINGS 


The Bearer of the Letter 


1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a min- 

2 ister* of the church at Cenchrex. I beg you to 
give her a Christian welcome, as the saints should; 
and to assist her in any matter in which she may 
have need of you. For she herself has been made 
an overseer * to many people, including myself. 


Greetings to Many Friends 


3 Salute Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow laborers in — 
4 the cause of Jesus Christ, who risked their own — 
lives to save mine; who are thanked not only by — 


5 me, but by all the churches among. the Gentiles. 


1The word used is Srdxovos, a masculine noun, meaning 
“ minister’ or “servant.” See 1 Cor. 3:5:1 Tim. 4: 6; 
Eph. 3:7; 1 Phess.'8 <2. 


*The Greek word ‘mpoordtis is a very strong one. It is — 


the noun corresponding to the verb used in 1 Timothy 8 : 4, 
hah eh 


patron, 


434 


It is variously translated champion, leader, protector, 





ROMANS 16 


Salute likewise the church that meets in their 
home. 

Salute Epznetus, my dearly beloved, the first man 
in Roman Asia to believe in Christ. 


6,7 Salute Mary, who toiled terribly for you; and 


Andronicus and Junia, my kinsfolk and fellow pris- 
oners, who are notable among the apostles, and 
who became Christians before I did. 


8,9 Salute Amplias, my beloved in the Lord; and Ur- 


17 


18 


ine 


banus, my fellow toiler in Christ; and Stachys, my 
dear, dear friend. 

Salute Apelles, tested and tried in Christ, and 
the household of Aristobulus, and Herodion, my 
kinsman. 

Salute the believing members of the household of 
Narcissus. 

Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who are ever toil- 
ing in the Lord. 

Salute dear Persis, who has toiled terribly in the 
Lord’s service. 

Salute Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his 
mother and mine. 

Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, 
Hermas, and the brothers who are associated with 
them. 

Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sis- 
ter, Olympas, and all the saints associated with 
them. 

Salute one another with a holy kiss. 

All the churches of Christ salute you. 


Warning Against False Brothers 


I exhort you, brothers, to keep watch of those who 
are causing thé divisions among you, and occasions 
of stumbling, contrary to the teaching which you 
have learned. Turn away from them. For men 
of that stamp are not the slaves of Christ, but are 
slaves to their own appetites. By their smooth and 
fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent. 
I say this, for the tidings of your obedience have 
been told throughout the world. On your own be- 
half, then, I rejoice; but I want you to be wise unto 


435 


ROMANS 16 


20 the good, but innocents in evil. The God of peace 
will soon crush Satan under your feet. 
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 


Greetings from Fellow Workers 


21 Timothy, my fellow worker, salutes you; so do my | 


fellow countrymen Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater. 
22 I, Tertius, who write this letter, salute you in the 
Lord. 
23 Gaius, my host, and the host of the church, salutes 
you. 
Krastus, the treasurer of the city, salutes you, 
and so does brother Quartus. 
24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with 
you all! 


Doxology 


25 Now I commend you to Him who is able to keep 
you stedfast, according to my gospel, and the procla- 
mation of Jesus Christ, whereby is unveiled the 
secret truth which was kept secret through imme- 

26 morial ages, but now has been brought to light, and 
by command of the eternal God made known to the 
Gentiles by the scriptures of the Prophets, so that 
the Gentiles might hold obedience of the faith. 

27 Unto Him, the only wise God, through Jesus Christ. 
be glory forever. Amen. 


436 


a ee eee -~ 


PAUL’S FIRST LETTER 
TO THE | 


CORINTHIANS 


Date: Written probably from Ephesus, during 
the third missionary journey, about 
54 A. D. 


Circumstances: Corinth was one of the most splendid 
and most wicked of the Greek cities. 
It contained a mixed population, was 
exceedingly wealthy, luxurious, and 
commercial. The moral conditions 
were unspeakable. 


Occasion: The apostle had news brought him of 
the dissensions and disorders that 
had arisen in this church, which he 
had founded. He had also received a 
letter from the church, submitting to 
him certain questions in regard to 
church discipline and doctrine. The 
first letter to the Corinthians rose 
out of these circumstances. 


I. CORINTHIANS 


I 
THE ETERNAL POWER OF THE CROSS 


Greeting 


1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle 

2 of Jesus Christ, and Sosthenes, his brother: to the 
Church of God at Corinth, to those who are sancti- 
fied in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together 
with all, wherever they are, who call upon the name 
of the Lord Jesus: 

3 Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and 
the Lord Jesus Christ. 


Thanksgiving 
4 Jam always thanking God on your behalf, for 
the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus; 
5 that in everything you have been enriched in him, 
6 in all speech, and in all knowledge (for thus my 
7 witness for Christ was confirmed among you); so 
that you lack no divine gift, while you are waiting 
8 for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He 
will also keep you perfectly stedfast unto the end, 
so that you will be unreprovable in the Day of our 
9 Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is the God by whom 
you were called into fellowship with his Son, Jesus 
Christ our Lord. 


The Rise of Party Spirit 


10 Now I beg you, brothers, in the name of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, to speak in accord, all of you, and to 
have no divisions among you, but to be knit to- 

11 gether in a common mind and temper. For it has 
been plainly told me concerning you, my brothers, 


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14 
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19 


20 
21 
22 
23 
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25 


26 


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I. CORINTHIANS 1 


by Chloe’s people, that there are dissensions among 
you. I mean by this that one of you says, “I ama 
follower of Paul”; another, “I of Apollos”; an- 
other, “I of Cephas’; another, “I of Christ.” 
Has Christ been divided? Paul, was he crucified 
for you? or was it into the name of Paul that you 
were baptized? I am thankful to God that I bap- 
tized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that 
no one can say you were baptized in my name. 
Yes, I did baptize the house of Stephanas also, but 
I do not think I baptized any one else. For Christ 
did not send me forth to baptize, but to proclaim 
the gospel; and that not in philosophic words, lest 
the Cross of Christ should be made an empty thing. 


The Glorious Message of the Cross 


For the message of the Cross is indeed for those 
on their way to destruction, foolishness; but for us 
who are on our way to salvation it is the power 
of God. For thus it is written, 

I will destroy the wisdom of the philosophers, 

And the prudence of the prudent will I confound. 
Sage, rabbi, skeptic of this present age—where are 
they all? Has not God made foolish the philosophy 
of the world? For when, in the wisdom of God, 
the world by its philosophy knew not God, it pleased 
God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save those 
who believe. Jews continue to ask for miracles and 
Greeks are ever wanting philosophy, but we come 
preaching a crucified Messiah—to Jews a stumbling- 
block, to Greeks foolishness, but to those who are 
the called, whether Jews or Greeks, Christ, the 
power of God and the wisdom of God. For the fool- 
ishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness 
of God is stronger than men. 


God’s Strange Choice of Agents 


For consider your own calling, brothers, that not 
many wise in earthly wisdom, not many powerful, 
not many of noble birth, have been called. No, God 


1 Tsay 29°: 14) 
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I. CORINTHIANS 2 


has chosen the world’s folly to confound its philos- 

ophy; and the world’s weakness to confound its 
28 strength. The world’s base things has God chosen, 

and the things that are despised, yes, and the things 

that are not, to bring to naught the things that are; 
29 so that no mortal man should glory in his presence. 
30 It is of him that you are in Christ Jesus, whom 

God made unto us wisdom and righteousness and 
31 sanctification and redemption, so that as Scripture 

says, 

He that glories, let him glory in the Lord? 


2 Jer. 9 ; 24. 
‘TI 


PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION CONTRASTED 


Not by Might But by My Spirit 
1 And when I came to you, brothers, I came not to 
proclaim: God’s great secret purpose in fine lan- 
2 guage or philosophy; for I determined to know noth- 
ing, while among you, but Jesus as Christ, and him 
3 a crucified Christ. .In weakness and fear and great 
4 trembling came I among you. My message and my 
preaching were not in the persuasive language of 
philosophy, but in demonstration of the Spirit and 
5 of power; in order that your faith should rest, not 
on human philosophy, but on the power of God. 


The True Philosophy or Wisdom 


6 Notwithstanding, among those who are mature I 
do teach philosophy; though not the philosophy of 
the present age, nor of its rulers who are coming 

7 to nought. No, it is God’s wisdom that I utter, that 
hidden wisdom. which God had decreed before the 

8 world began, unto our glory. None of the rulers of 
the present age understands it, for if they had, 
they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. 

9 Nay, as it is written: 

Eye has not seen, 
Nor ear heard, 
Neither have entered into man’s heart 


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11 


12 


13 


14 


15 


16 


1 


2 
3 


4 


I. CORINTHIANS 38 


The things which God has prepared 

For those who love him 
Yet God has unveiled them to us by his Spirit. For 
the Spirit fathoms everything, even the abysmal 
depths of God. 


The Mind of Christ, Our Teacher 


For what man knows the depths of man except 
the man’s own inner spirit? Even so, also, the 
Spirit of God knows the deeps profound of God. 
But we have not received the spirit of the world, 
but the Spirit which comes forth from God, that 
we may realize the blessings freely given us by 
God. Of these high themes we speak in words not 
taught by human philosophy, ,but by the Spirit; 
interpreting spiritual things to spiritual men. The 
unspiritual man rejects the teachings of God’s 
Spirit; for to him it is folly. He cannot understand 
it, for it is spiritually discerned. But the spiritual 
man discerns everything, yet is himself discerned 
by no one. 

For what man understands the mind of the Lord, 
that he should instruct Him?? 


BUT WE HAVE THE MIND oF CHRIST! 


1 Tsai 64 : 4. 
2TIsa. 40: 138. 


III 
THE NATURE AND GLORY OF THE CHURCH 


Factions a Proof of Unspirituality 


As for me, brothers, I could not talk to you as 
spiritual men, but as to creatures of flesh, mere 
babes in Christ. I fed you milk, not meat; for 
you were unable to bear it. You are not able even 
now, for you are still unspiritual. While there is 
among you jealousy and strife, are you not still 
unspiritual, and behaving like worldlings? When 
one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow 
Apollos,” are you not mere worldlings? 


442 


I. CORINTHIANS 3 


True Function of an Apostle 


5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Just min- 
isters through whom you have believed, and each do- 

6 ing the work that the Lord gave to him. I planted, 

7 Apollos watered, but God made the seed grow. So 
neither is he who planted anything, nor he who 
watered, but God alone, who is making the seed 

8 grow. Now, though he who plants and he who 
waters are one, each will receive his own reward, 

9 according to his own service. For we are God’s 
fellow workers; and you are God’s field, you are 
God’s building. 


Building for a Day, or for Eternity 


10 According to the grace of God vouchsafed me, 
like a skilful master-builder, I have laid a founda- 
tion; but another will be building upon it. Let each 

11 take heed how he builds on it. The foundation is al- 
ready laid—Jesus Christ—and no man can lay an- 

12 other. On that foundation, if a man proceeds to 
build gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stub- 

13 ble, each man’s work will be made manifest. The 
Day will disclose it, for it dawns in fire, and the 
fire will test each man’s work, of what quality it is. 

14 If any man’s work—the building he has made— 

15 stands the test, he will be rewarded. If any man’s 
work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself 
will be saved, as it were through the flames. 


The Real “ Holy of Holies” is Within You 


16 Do you not know that you are God’s sanctuary, 
and that the Spirit of God is dwelling within you? 

17 If any one tear down God’s sanctuary, God will tear 
him down; for the sanctuary of God is holy, and 
that is what you are. 


Mere Human Wisdom Is Folly 


18 Let no one deceive himself. If any one of you 
supposes that he is wise in the philosophy of the 
present age, let him become foolish, so that he may 


443 


I. CORINTHIANS 4 


19 be wise. For the philosophy of this world is fool- 
ishness in God’s sight. It is written, 
He snares the wise in their own craftiness,' 
20 and again, 
The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, how 
futele they are.’ 


But You Have All Things 


21 So let no one make his boast in men. For all 
22 things are yours; Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, 
life, death, things present or things to come; all 
23 things are yours; and you are Christ’s, and Christ 
is God’s. 
4Job 5: 3, 


ers. ote Lie Iv 


A LOVING, YET IRONIC APPEAL 


To God I Stand 


1 Let any man look upon us as servants of Christ, 
2 and stewards of the secret truths of God. Now it is 
required of stewards, that a man be found faithful. 
3 But to me it matters very little that I am judged 
4 by you, or by any earthly court. Indeed I do not 
even judge myself; for though I know. nothing 
against myself, yet that does not vindicate me; for 
° he who judges me is the Lord. So make no hasty 
judgment until the Lord come, who will both bring 
to light the hidden things of darkness, and will 
make plain the purposes of men’s hearts. Then 
each man’s due praise will come to him from God. 


Nothing Beyond What Is Written 


6 Now these things, brothers, I have applied in a 
figure to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that 
in us you might learn not to go beyond what is 
written; that none of you be puffed up for the one, 

7 against the other. For who makes you to differ, 
brother? Or what have you that you did not re- 
ceive? But if you did receive it, why are you boast- 
ing as if you had not received it? 


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13 


14 
15 


16 
17 


20 
21 


I. CORINTHIANS 4 


The Lot of an Apostle 


But you, forsooth, are already full, are you? 
You are already rich? Without us you are already 
reigning? Yes, and I would that you did reign, 
so that we also might reign with you. But it seems 
to me that God has exhibited us apostles, last of 
all, ike men doomed to death: for we are made a 
spectacle to the whole world, both to men and to 
angels. For Christ’s sake we are fools, but you are 
quite philosophic in Christ. We are weak, but you 
are strong; you are honorable, but we are outcasts. 
Even to this very hour we are enduring hunger and 
thirst and nakedness and blows. Homeless men, 
we toil, working with our own hands. When re- 
viled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when 
defamed, we conciliate. We have been made, as it 
were, scum-o’-the-earth, the very refuse of the 
world, to this very hour! 


Paul, Their Father in the Gospel 


I am not writing this to shame you, but to ad- 
monish you, as my beloved children. For though 
you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, you can 
have but one father. For in Christ Jesus I begot 
you through the gospel. I beg you then to imitate 
my example. With this in mind I have sent Timothy 
to you. Heis my dear and faithful son in the Lord, 
who will remind you of my ways in Christ; the 
manner in which I ever teach everywhere in every 
church. 


Reality of Apostolic Authority 


Now some are puffed up, as though I were not 
coming to you. But come to you I will, and that 
soon, if it please the Lord, and then I shall learn 
not the talk of these boasters, but their power. 
For the kingdom of God is not in talk, but in power. 
Which do you want? Am I to come to you with a 
rod, or in a loving and tender spirit? 


» 445 


I. CORINTHIANS 5 . 


V 


. A REBUKE TO IMMORALITY 


A Scandal in the Church 


1 It is actually reported that there is immorality 
among you, and such immorality as is not even 
among the heathen—that a man has taken his 

2 father’s wife! Yet you are puffed up instead of 
mourning and removing from among you the man 

3 who has done this thing. For I, although absent 
in body, yet present in spirit, have already passed 
sentence, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

4 on him who has done this thing. When you are 
gathered together, and my spirit is with you to- 

5 gether with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have 
handed over such a man to Satan for the destruc- 
tion of his flesh, that his spirit may be saved, in 
the day of the Lord Jesus. 


Not Compromise, but Cleansing 


6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that 

7 even a little leaven leavens all the lump? Then 
get rid of the old leaven, so that you may be like 
a new lump, as you are now unleavened. For our 
Paschal Lamb has already been sacrificed, Christ 

8 himself. So let us keep the unending feast, not 
with any old leaven, neither with leaven of malice 
and vice, but with unleavened bread of sincerity 
and truth. 


Need of Church Discipline 


9 I told you in my letter not to associate with the 
10 immoral. Not that in this world you were actually 
to have no contact with the immoral, the avaricious, 
the thievish, or with idolaters; for AM you would 
11 have to leave the world, altogether, But what I 
wrote was that you were not to associate with 
any so-called brother who is immoral, or avaricious, 
or idolatrous, or abusive, or a drunkard, or an ex- 
tortioner. No, with such persons do not even sit 


446 © 





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13 


1 


2 


(oh) 


10 
11 


I. CORINTHIANS 6 


at table. What have I to do with the judging of 
outsiders? Must not you judge those who are within 
the church, while God judges outsiders? Eupel that 
wicked man from among you. 


DCULH aoe: «24. 
VI 


CHRISTIAN, WALK CAREFULLY 


Lawsuits Between Christians 


Dare any one of you who has a grievance against 
his neighbor go to law before heathen judges, 
instead of before the saints? Do you not know 
that the saints will judge the world? And if 
the world is to be tried by you, are you unfit to 
try such trifling cases? Do you not know that 
we are to try angels? How much more, then, the 
affairs of this life. Why then, if you have cases 
relating to earthly affairs which need to be de- 
cided, is it men who are absolutely nothing in the 
church whom you make your judges? I say this 
to shame you. Is it so that there is not among 
you a single wise man, capable of deciding between 
a man and his brother? Must brother go to law 
with brother, and that, too, before unbelievers? 
Indeed, to say nothing more, the fact that you have 
lawsuits with one another is altogether a defect 
in you. Why not rather suffer injustice? Why 
not rather endure being cheated? On the con- 
trary, you yourselves are inflicting injustice and 
fraud, and that upon your brothers. 


The Christians Must Depart from Iniquity 


Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit 
the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. None who 
are immoral, or idolaters, or adulterers, or cata- 
mites, or sodomites, or thieves, or avaricious men, or 
drunkards, or foul-mouthed men, or extortioners will 
inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of 
you, but you have washed away your stains, you 
have been consecrated, you have been justified in 


447 


ee CORINTHIANS 7 


the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit 
of our God. 

12 “All things are lawful for me”? Yes, but not 
all things are good for me. “ All things are law- 
ful for me”? Yes, but I will not let myself be 

13 enslaved by the power of any. “ Food is meant for 
the stomach, and the stomach for food ”? Yes, but 
God will soon put an end both to the one and to the 
other. The body, however, exists not for im- 
morality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the 

14 body; and the God who raised up our Lord will up- 
raise us also by his mighty power. 


Shall the Members of Christ Become Members of a 
Harlot? 


15 You know, do you not, that your bodies are mem- 
bers of Christ? Shall I then take the members of 
Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God 

16 forbid! Do you not know that he who joins him- 
self to a harlot is one with her in body? (For God 

17 says, The two shall become one flesh.*) While a 
man who is united with the Lord is one with Him 

18 in spirit?) Flee from immorality. Every [other] 
sin that man commits lies outside the body, but the 

19 immoral man sins against his own body. Do you 
not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy 
Spirit who is within you, the Spirit whom you have 

20 from God? You are not your own ; for you have 
been bought with a price, therefore glorify God in 
your bodies. 


1 Gen. 20: 24, 
VII 


THE SUBJECT OF MARRIAGE 


Rights and Duties of Marriage 


1 Now concerning the question in your letter. It is 
well for a man to have no intercourse with a woman, 
2 but because there is so much immorality let each 
man have his own wife; and let each woman have 
3 her own husband. Let the husband give his wife 


448 





I. CORINTHIANS 7 


her due, and likewise the wife her husband. The 
4 wife is not mistress of her own person, but her 
husband is; and in the same way the husband is 
5 not master of his own person, but his wife is. Do 
not refuse one another, unless it is only temporary 
and by mutual consent, so that you may devote 
yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, 
lest through your lack of self-control Satan begin 
6 to tempt you to sin. But what I have just said is 
7 by way of concession, not command. I would that 
every one lived as I do; but each man has his 
own special gift from God, one this, another that. 


Advice to the Unmarried 


8 But to the unmarried, and to the widows, I say 
9 that it is well for them to remain as Iam. If, how- 
ever, they are not exercising self-control, by all 
means let them marry; for marriage is better than 
10 the fever of passion. But to those already married 
my commandment is—and not mine, but the Lord’s— 
11 that a wife is not to leave her husband; (or if she 
has already left him let her either remain as she is, 
or be reconciled to him), and also that a husband 

is not to put away his wife.’ 


Advice to Those Married to Unbelievers 


12 To the rest it is 1 who am speaking, not the Lord. 
If any brother has a wife who is not a believer, 
and she is willing te live with him, let him not send 

13 her away. And a woman whose husband is not a 
believer, if he is willing to live with her, let her 

14 not separate from him. For the unbelieving hus- 
band is consecrated through union with his beliey- 
ing wife; and the unbelieving wife, through union 
with her believing husband. Otherwise your chil- 
dren would be unholy, but now they are consecrated 

15 to God. But if the unbelieving partner be deter- 
mined to leave, separation let it be. In such cases 
the believing husband or wife is not under bondage. 

16 But it is into peace that God has called us. For 
how do you know, wife, whether you will save 


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20 
21 
22 


23 


24 


25 


26 


27 
28 


29 


I. CORINTHIANS 7 


your husband? Or how do you know, husband, 
whether you will save your wife? 


In Whatever State You Are, There Abide 


Only whatever be the lot in life to which God 
has assigned each one—and whatever the condition 
in which he was living when God called him—in 
that let him continue. Such is the rule I give in all 
the churches. So, was any man called, being cir- 
cumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was 
any man called when he was uncircumcised? Let 
him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, 
and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s com- 
mands is everything. Whatever be the condition 
of life in which he was called, in that let him con- 
tinue. Were you called when in slavery? Let not 
that trouble you; but if you can become free make 
use of the opportunity. For the slave who has 
been called in the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; 
and in the same way, the free man who is called 
is Christ’s slave. You have been bought with a 
price; do not become slaves to men. Where each 
man stood when he was called, there, brothers, let 
him stay, close to God. 


Difficulties About Unmarried Women 


I have no command from the Lord to give you 
concerning unmarried women; but I give you my 
opinion, and it is that of a man who, through the 
Lord’s mercy, is deserving of your confidence. I 
think then, that in view of the time of suffering now 
imminent, it is best for a man to remain as he is. 

Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be 
free. Are you free from the marriage bond? Do 
not seek for a wife. Yet if you do marry, you have 
not done wrong; and if a girl marries, she has not 
done wrong. Such people, however, will have 
trouble in worldly affairs, and I wish to spare you. 


“The World Passes Away ” 


Indeed, brothers, the time that remains to us has 
been shortened; so let those who have wives live 


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35 


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37 


38 


39 


40 


I. CORINTHIANS 7 


as if they had none, let those who weep be as 
though they did not weep, those who rejoice as 
though they did not rejoice, those who buy as 
though they did not possess, and those who use 
the world as though using it sparingly. For the 
present phase of the world is passing away. So I 
want you to be free from all anxieties. An un- 
married man is anxious about the Lord’s business, 
how he may please the Lord; but a married man 
is anxious about worldly affairs, how he may please 
his wife, and he is divided in his mind. Again, the 
woman who is a widow, or the maid, is anxious 
about the Lord’s business, how she may be pure in 
body and in mind; but the married woman is anx- 
ious about worldly affairs, how she may please her 
husband. It is in your own interest that I say this; 
not that I may entangle you in a snare, but that I 
may help you to serve the Lord with fitting and un- 
distracted service. 


A Father’s Duty Toward His Daughter 


If, however, a father feels that he is not treating 
his virgin daughter in a seemly manner, in leaving 
her unmarried beyond the fiower of her age, and so 
the matter is urgent, let him do what she desires; 
he commits no sin. Let the marriage take place. 
On the other hand, he who is firm in his purpose 
and is under no compulsion, but is free to carry out 
his own wishes, and who has determined to keep 
his daughter unmarried, does well. So he that 
gives his daughter in marriage is doing right, 
and he who keeps her unmarried will be doing 
better. 


The Remarriage of Widows 


A wife is bound to her husband during his lifetime; 
but if her husband dies, she is free to marry whom- 
ever she will, provided it be in the Lord. But she 
is happier, in my judgment, if she remains as she 
is; and I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God. 


451 


I. CORINTHIANS 8 


VIII 


A GREAT PRINCIPLE OF CONDUCT 


Regarding Food Offered io Idols 


1 Now in regard to food which has been offered 
to idols, we are sure of course that ‘“ we all have 
knowledge.”’* But knowledge puffs up, while love 

2 builds up. If a man thinks that he already has 
knowledge, he does not yet truly know as he ought 

38 to know; but if a man loves God, he is known by 

4 him. Now as to eating food that has been offered 
to idols, we know well that an idol has no real 
existence in the universe, and that there is no God 


5 but One. For though there be so-called “ gods,” 


celestial or terrestrial, as indeed there are gods 

6 many and lords many, yet for us there is one God, 
the Father, from whom are all things, and we 
for him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are 
all things, and we by him. 


Brotherly Love the Solution 


7 But that “knowledge” is not possessed by all; 
but some, accustomed until now to the idol, eat food 
as that which has actually been offered to an idol, 
and so their conscience, being still weak, is defiled. 

8 Now food does not bring us nearness to God. 
Neither if we eat do we gain any advantage, nor if 

9 we eat not, do we lose any. But see to it lest this 
right of yours become a stumbling-block to the weak. 

10 For if any one should see you, the possessor of 
“knowledge,” reclining at table in an idol’s temple, 
would not his conscience, if he were weak, be em- 


11 boldened to eat things sacrificed to idols? So he 


is lost, this weak man, lost by your “knowledge,” 
12 this brother for whom Christ died. In so sinning 
against your brothers, and in ever and again wound- 
ing their weak consciences, you are sinning against 
1The word yvaou, “ knowledge,’ has a sort of technical 


Sense in which it is perhaps used here—‘“ illumination,”’ 
meUlcuLes: 


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I. CORINTHIANS 9 


13 Christ. Therefore, if what I eat makes my brother 
to stumble, I will never eat meat again, lest I 
make my brother to stumble. 


IX 
PAUL’S EXAMPLE OF SELF-SUPPORT 


Paul’s Apostleship Vindicated 
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I 
not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in 
2 the Lord? Even if I am not an apostle to others, 
to you at least I am; for you are the seal of my 
3 apostleship in the Lord. This is my reply to my 
critics. 


Right to Apostolic Support 

4,5 Have I no right to claim food and drink? Have 
I no right to take a believing wife with me on my 
journey, as the rest of the apostles and the Lord’s 

6 brothers and Peter do? Are we the only ones, Bar- 
nabas and I, who have no right to give up manual 
7 labor? What soldier ever serves at his own ex- 
pense? What farmer ever plants a vineyard and 
does not eat of its fruit? What shepherd tends 
8 his flock and does not taste the milk? Am I say- 
ing this on human authority only, or does not the 
9 Law also say the same? Yea, in the Law of Moses 
it is written, 
Thou shalt not muzzle an ox while he is treading 
out the grain.’ 

10 Is it the oxen that God is thinking about, or is it 
really said for our sakes? It was written for us; 
because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the 
thresher to thresh in hope of getting a share of the 
crop. 


Preachers to Be Maintained 


11 If I have sown for you the seeds of spiritual good, 
is it a great thing if I reap from you temporal 


1Deut. 25°: 4. 
453 


I, CORINTHIANS 9 


12 goods? If others share this authority over you, do 
not I far more? Yet I have not availed myself of 
it, but am patiently enduring; so that I may not in 
any way hinder the progress of Christ’s gospel. 

13 You know, do you not, that those who minister in 
the temple, and those who serve at the altar, get 

14 their portion of the sacrifices? Even so the Lord 
ordained that those who proclaim the gospel should 
get their living by the gospel. 


Paul Waives His Right to Support 


15 But for my part, I have never availed myself of 
any of these rights. I do not say this to bring it 
about in my own case. I would rather die than let 

16 any one make void this boast of mine. Proclaiming 
the gospel gives me no ground of boasting; for 
necessity is laid upon me; woe is me if I preach not 

17 the gospel. For if I do this of my own accord, I 
have my pay; but if unwillingly, I have at least 

18 discharged my stewardship. What then is my wage? 
This, that I can make the gospel free where I 
carry it; and that I can refrain from using my 
rights as a preacher of the gospel. 


Paul’s Motives in This: (1) Eagerness to Win Men 


19 Though free from ail men, I make myself the 

20 slave of all, that I may win the more. To the Jews 
IT am become like a Jew, that I may win J ews; to 
those under the Law, like one under the Law, that 
I may win those under the Law, though I am not 

21 under the Law, myself; to those outside the Law, 
as one outside the Law, to win those outside the 
Law (though I am not outside the law of God, but 

22 inside the law of Christ). I am become weak to 
the weak, to win the weak. I am become all things 
to all men that, by any and by all means, I may save 

23 some. And I am doing it all for the gospel’s sake, 
that I may become a copartner in it. 


(2) His Own Wish to Win the Prize 


24 Do you not know that in a foot-race, though all 
run, only one receives the prize? So run that you 


454 


25 


26 


27 


10 
11 


I. CORINTHIANS 10 


may win. Every man who contends in the games 
continually trains himself by all manner of self- 
restraint. Now they do it to get a fading garland, 
but we, one that is unfading. For my part, then, 
I run with no wavering to the goal. I box not as 
one beating the air, but I bruise my body and keep 
it in subjection, lest having called others to the 
contest, I should myself be disqualified. 


Xx 
LESSONS FROM THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL 


Israel’s Story Our Warning 

For I would not have you ignorant, brothers, how 
our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed 
through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses 
in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate of the 
same spiritual bread, and all drank of the same 
spiritual stream, for they were drinking from a 
spiritual rock that followed them, and that Rock 
was Christ. But in most of them God was not well 
pleased, for they were laid low in the desert." Now 
this happened as a warning for us, that we might 
not long for evil things as they longed. And you 
must not be idolaters like some of them: as it is 
written, 

The people sat down to eat and drink, 
And they rose up for idol dances.’ 

Nor must we act licentiously, as some of them 
did, and fell in a single day, twenty-three thousand 
of them. Neither must we presume upon the 
patience of our Lord, as some of them presumed, 
and were destroyed by the serpents; nor murmur, 
as some of them did, and were destroyed by the 
Destroying Angel. Now these things were happen- 
ing to them typically, but were written down for our 
admonition who stand at the meeting of the ages. 


* Num. 21 :' 6: 
2 Hxod. 32 : 6. 


455 


I. CORINTHIANS 10 


We Can Overcome Temptation 


12 So then let him who imagines that he is standing 

13 so securely beware lest he fall. No temptation has 
overtaken you that is beyond man’s power; but God 
is faithful, who will not let you be tempted beyond 
what you can bear, but will, with every temptation, 
provide the way of escape also, so that you may 
be able to withstand. 


Shun Idolatry 


14 So then, my beloved, continually flee from idol- 
15 atry. I am speaking to men of sense; do you your- 
16 selves judge what I say. The cup of blessing which 
we bless, is it not a common participation in the 
blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it 
not a common participation in the body of Christ? 
17 Because we who are many are one bread, one body, 
18 for we all do share in the one loaf. Look at Israel 
according to the flesh; are not those who eat the 
19 sacrifices in communion with the altar? What 
then shall we say? that an offering to an idol is 
20 anything? or that an idol is really anything? On 
the contrary, what the heathen sacrifice they sacri- 
fice to demons and not to God, and I do not want 
21 you to have communion with demons. You cannot 
drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of 
demons; you cannot be partakers in the Lord’s 
22 table and in the table of demons. What! would we 
provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger 
than he? 


Brotherliness Limits Freedom ) 
23 “All things are lawful,” you say? But not all 
things are expedient; “all things are lawful ”: but 
24 not all build up. Let not each one be always seek- 
ing his own, but rather his neighbor’s good. 


The Principle in Practise 


25. Eat anything that is for sale in the markets, ask- 
26 ing no questions for conscience sake; for the earth 
27 and its fulness are the Lord’s. If one who is not a 


456 





I. CORINTHIANS 11 


believer invites you to his house, and you wish to 
go, eat everything that is set before you, without 

28 asking questions for conscience sake. But if 
any one tells you, “ This food has been offered in 
sacrifice,” do not eat it, for the sake of him who 

29 told you, and for conscience sake—his conscience, 
not your own. “ But,” you may object, ‘‘ why should 
my freedom be decided upon another’s scruples of 

30 conscience? If I eat after giving thanks, why am 
I denounced for eating that for which I have given 
thanks? ” 


Eating or Drinking, You Are God’s 


31 Because whether you are eating or whether you 
are drinking, you are to do it all for the glory of 

32 God. Do not be a cause of stumbling either to Jews 

33 or to Gentiles, or to the church of God. For so 
I also try to please all men in every way, not by 
seeking my own good, but the good of the many, 
that they may be saved. 


XI 
DIRECTIONS ABOUT PUBLIC WORSHIP 


Proprieties at Church Meetings 


1 Be imitators of me, as I am an imitator of Christ. 

2 Indeed I praise you for remembering me in every- 
thing, and because you are holding fast to the tradi- 

3 tions just as you received them. But I wish you to 
understand that the head of every man is Christ, and 
of a wife her husband is head; and that God is head 

4 of Christ. Every man who prays or prophesies 

5 with head veiled+ dishonors his Head; but every 
woman who prays or prophesies with her head 
unveiled dishonors her head (her husband): for 
it is one and the same thing as if she ‘were 
shaven. 


1The Jewish tradition required a man to be veiled during 
worship. 


457 


6 


14 
15 


17 


18 


19 


20 
21 


I. CORINTHIANS 11 


Paul Does Not Accept Jewish Customs 


If 2 woman does not wear a veil, let her also cut 
off her hair; now if it is a disgrace for a woman 
to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her 
be veiled. A man, indeed, ought not to have his 
head veiled, for he is an image and glory of God; 
but woman is a glory of man. For it is not man 
who was made from woman, but woman was made 
from man. And man was not created for woman, 
but woman for man. For this reason the woman 
ought to have authority over her head, because of her 
[guardian] angels. However, in the Lord neither is 
woman. independent of man, nor is man independent 
of woman; for just as the woman was made from 
the man, so also is the man born of the woman, 
while they both come from God. 

Judge of this for your own selves. It is fitting 
that a woman should pray to God with her head 
unveiled. Nor does nature itself teach you that it 
is a disgrace to a man to have long hair, but it is 
woman’s glory, because her hair has been given her 
instead of a veil. If, however, any one is inclined 
to be disputatious regarding such a custom, let him 
know that neither I nor the churches of God hold 
to such a custom. 


Church Quarrels 


But in giving you the following instructions, I 
cannot praise you; your solemn assemblies do more 
harm than good. To begin with, I am told—and I 
believe there is some truth in it—that when you 
meet at a church there are divisions among you. 
For there must needs be also parties among you, 
in order that the good may be tested and made 
known. 


Disorder at the Lord’s Supper 


Again, when you meet together, there is no true 
eating of the Lord’s Supper; for each one of you 
begins to eat his own supper; one goes hungry, . 


4538 





I. CORINTHIANS 11 


22 while another gets drunk. What! Have you no 


25 


25 


26 


27 
28 
29 


30 
ol 


32 
33 
34 


houses in which to eat or drink? or do you wish 
to show your contempt for the church of God, and 
to shame those who have no homes to eat in? What 
shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this 
I certainly do not praise you. 


The True Origin of the Supper 


For I passed on to you the account, which I 
myself received from the Lord; how the Lord Jesus, 
on the very night he was betrayed, took bread, 
and when he had given thanks, he broke it, saying, 

“This is my body, broken for you; this do in 
memory of me.” 

In the same way also, he took the cup after supper, 
saying: 

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do 
this, whenever you drink it, in memory of me.” 
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this 
cup, you are proclaiming your Lord’s death until 
he come. 


The Significance of the Supper 


So he that eats the bread or drinks the cup of 
the Lord unworthily must answer for a sin against 
the body and blood of the Lord. Let each man 
scrutinize himself, and thus let him eat of the bread 
and drink of the cup. For whoever eats and drinks 
without discerning the body, eats and drinks con- 
demnation to himself. This is why many among 
you are feeble and sickly, and many sleep. If, how- 
ever, we were judging ourselves aright, we should 
not now be condemned; but through our condemna- 
tion by the Lord, we are trained so that we may 
not be condemned along with the world. So, my 
brothers, whenever you come together for this meal, 
wait for one another. If any one is hungry, let him 
eat at home, so that your meetings do not bring 
condemnation upon you. 

The other matters I will adjust when I come. 


459 


I. CORINTHIANS 12 


XII 
ON SPIRITUAL GIFTS 


Gifts Differing in Glory 


1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do 
2 not wish you to be ignorant. You know that when 
you were heathen you went astray after dumb idols, 
83 wherever you chanced to be led. Wherefore I want 
you to understand that no one who speaks in the 
Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed,” and no 


one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except in the Holy — 


Spirit. 


From One Spirit Diverse Gifts 


4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same 
5 Spirit; there are various forms of service, and the 
6 same Lord; and varieties of work, and the same 
7 God, who works all in all. Now to each man has 
been given his manifestation of the Spirit for the 
8 common good. For to one man by the Spirit has 
been given a word of wisdom, to another a word 
9 of insight by the same Spirit; to one man by the 
same Spirit is given faith, to another gifts of 
10 healing by the one Spirit; to another the powers 
which work miracles, to another prophecy, to an- 
other the discernment of spirits; to another varieties 
of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 


11 But the one and same Spirit gives power to all, dis- 


tributing his gifts to each as he wills. 


The Church Is an Organism 


12 For just as the body is one and has many mem- 
bers, and all the members of the body, although 
13 they be many, are one body; so also is Christ. And 
we can see this, for in one Spirit we were all bap- 
tized into one body, whether Jew or Gentile, whether 
slave or free, and we were all made to drink of one 
14 Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. 
15 If the foot should say, 


460 











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24 


25 


26 


27 
28 


29 
30 


31 


I. CORINTHIANS 12 


“Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of 
the body,” 
would it not indeed be a part of the body? Or if 
the ear should say, 

“ Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of 
the body,” 
would it be any less a part of the body? 

If the whole body were an eye, where were hear- 
ing? If all were hearing, where were smelling? 
But now God has set the members, each one of them, 
in the body as it has pleased him. If all were one 
member, where would the body be? But now there 
are many members, but one body. And the eye can- 
not say to the hand, 

“T have no need of you”’; 
nor again the head to the feet, 

“T have no need of you.” 

On the contrary, we need those members of the 
body which seem to be weaker; upon those parts of 
the body which we esteem less honorable, we bestow 
more abundant honor, and our uncomely parts have 
more abundant comeliness. For whereas our comely 
parts have no need, God has tempered the body 
together, giving more abundant honor to that mem- 
ber which lacked; that there should be no disunion 
in the body, but that members should have mutual 
care for one another. When one member suffers, 
all the others suffer with it; and when one member 
is honored, all the members are glad with it. 


Unity Involves Dependence 


Now you are the body of Christ, and individually 
members of it. And God has appointed those in 
the church to be first of all apostles, ‘second, 
prophets, third, teachers: then workers of miracles, 
healers, helpers, administrators, users of various 
kinds of ‘tongues.’ Are all apostles? Are all 
prophets? teachers? workers of miracles? Have all 
gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do 
all interpret? Desire earnestly the greater gifts. 
And yet I will go on to show you a still more excel- 
lent way. 


A61 


1 
2 


1B 


12 


13 


I. CORINTHIANS 13 


XIII 
THE GREATEST SPIRITUAL GIFT 


All Worthless, Lacking Love 


Though I speak in the tongues of men and of 
angels, but have no love, I am become a clanging 
brass, or a clashing cymbal. Though I have the 
gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and 
all knowledge, and have all faith, so that I could 
remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 
And though I sell all my goods to feed the poor, 
and though I give my body to be burned, but have 
not love, it avails me nothing. 


A Portrait of Jesus 


Love suffers long and is kind; love envies not; love 
makes no parade, is not puffed up, is not rude, nor 
selfish, nor easily provoked. Love bears no malice, 
never rejoices over wrong-doing, but rejoices when 
the truth rejoices. It knows how to be silent, it is 
trustful, hopeful, patient, enduring. Love never 
fails; but though there are prophecies, they will 
fail; though there are tongues, they will cease; 
though there is knowledge, it will be superseded. 
For our knowing is imperfect, and our prophesying 
is imperfect; but when the perfect is come, then 
the imperfect will be done away. When I was a 
child I spoke like a child, felt like a child, thought 
like a child; now that I am become a man, I have 
done with childish things. 


Things That Abide 


For now we see as in a mirror, and are baffled, 
but then face to face; now I know in fragments, 
but then shall I understand even as I also have been 
understood. Faith, Hope, Love endure—these three; 
but the greatest of these is Love. 


462 





1 
2 


13 
14 


I. CORINTHIANS 14 


XIV 


THE GIFT OF TONGUES AND THE GIFT 
OF PREACHING 


Prophecy Superior to the Gift of Tongues 


Hotly pursue this love, yet seek earnestly spiri- 
tual gifts, and chiefly that you may prophesy. For 
he who speaks in a “tongue” speaks not to man 
but to God, for no one understands him, but in the 
Spirit he utters secret truths. But he who prophesies 
addresses words to men that build up, encourage, 
and console. He who speaks in a tongue upbuilds 
himself; but he who prophesies upbuilds the church. 
Now I should like you all to speak with “ tongues ”’; 
but I should rather that you prophesied. For he 
who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with 
tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may 
be built up. Now brothers, if I should come to you 
speaking with tongues, what should I benefit you, 
unless I speak to you some revelation, or knowl- 
edge, or prophecy, or teaching? For if lifeless in- 
struments such as the flute or the harp give no dis- 
tinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what 
is fluted or harped? Or, for example, if the trumpet 
give an uncertain sound, what soldier will be pre- 
pared for battle? In the same way with you, if 
you utter unintelligible words with your tongue, how 
can what you say be understood? You will be 
speaking to the winds! 

There are, let us say, so many languages in the 
world, and none without its meaning. If then I do 
not know the force of the expression, I shall seem 
a barbarian to the one who uses it, and he will 
seem a barbarian to me. So also in your case, since 
you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, seek to excel 
in them for the upbuilding of the church. 


Testifying in Order to Build Up 


So let him who speaks with tongues pray that 
he may interpret. For if I pray in an unknown 


463 


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16 


20 
21 


22 


23 


24 


25 


26 


27 


I. CORINTHIANS 14 


tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is barren. 
What, then? I will pray with my spirit, and I will 
pray also with my mind. I will praise God with 
my spirit, but I will praise him with my mind, also. 
For if you in your spirit bless God, how shall he 
who fills the place of the unlearned say the Amen 
to your thanksgiving, when he does not know what 
you are talking about? You on the one hand offer 
a good thanksgiving, but the other is not built 
up. Thank God I speak with tongues more than 
you all, but in the church I would rather speak five 
words with my understanding, so as to instruct 
others, than ten thousand in an unknown tongue. 

Brothers, do not become children in understand- 
ing; be babes in malice, but in understanding be- 
come mature men. In the Law it is written, 

With men of other tongues, and by the lips of 
strangers, will I speak to this people, and even then 
they will not listen to me; says the Lord. 


Contrast Between Prophecy and Tongues 


So then the gift of tongues is for a sign, not to 
believers, but to unbelievers; but prophecy is not for 
unbelievers, but for those who believe. Accord- 
ingly, when the whole church assembles, and every- 
body is speaking “with tongues,” if there enter 
men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say 
that you are mad? But if all are prophesying when 
an unlearned or unbelieving man enters, he is con- 
victed in conscience by your speaker, he feels him- 
self judged by all, and the secret depths of his heart 
are laid open. So he will fall upon his face and 
worship God, saying, “ Of a truth, God is with you.” 


All Things Decently and in Order 


What follows, then, brothers? Whenever you 
meet together, each contributes something; a psalm, 
a sermon, a revelation, a tongue, an interpretation. 
Let all be done for edification. If any one speaks 
in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the 


Laisa, 285: 11. 
464 


28 


29 
30 


ol 


32 
38 


34 


ays) 


36 
37 


38 
39 
40 


1 


I. CORINTHIANS 15 


most by three, and that in turn, and let some one in- 
terpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let them 
keep silence in the church, and speak to themselves 
and to God. Let the prophets speak by two or three, 
and let the others exercise their judgment. But if 
to one as he sits there some revelation is made, let 
the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by 
one; so that all may be learning, and all may be 
encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject 
to prophets, for God is not a God of confusion, but 
of peace. This custom prevails in all the churches 
of the saints. 


Question Regarding Women in the Churches 


“In your congregation” [you write], “as in all 
the churches of the saints, let the women keep 
silence in the churches, for they are not permitted 
to speak. On the contrary let them be subordinate, 
as also says the law.’ And if they want to learn 
anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, 
for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.” 
What, was it from you that the word of God went 
forth, or to you only did it come? If any one thinks 
himself a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize 
that what I am: now writing you is a command of 
the Lord. But if any one disregard it he will be 
disregarded. So, my brothers, be ambitious for the 
gift of prophecy, and speak not against the gift of 
tongues. Let everything be done decently and in 
order. 

2 This can only refer to the oral law of the Jews, as no 


such prohibition is found in the Law. Paul is probably 
quoting a sentence from the Judaizers. 


XV 
A PAZAN OF RESURRECTION 


The Resurrection of Jesus 
Now I am calling to your remembrance, Crcaier 
the gospel which I preached to you, which you also 


465 


or Or 


oo 


10 


Tk 


I. CORINTHIANS 15 


received, and on which you have taken your stand, 
by which also you are saved, if you are holding 
fast the message which I preached to you; unless 
indeed you have believed in vain. For the very first 
thing 1 taught you was that which I had myself 
been taught, that Christ died for our sins accord- 
ing to the Scripture, that he was buried, and that 
he was raised the third day, according to the 
Scriptures, and was seen by Cephas, and then by 
the Twelve. Afterward he was seen at one time by 
more than five hundred brethren, most of whom are 
still alive, but some are fallen asleep. Then he was 
seen by James, then by all the apostles, and last of 
all, as by one born out of due time, he was seen 
by me also. For I am the least of the apostles, I 
who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I 
persecuted the church of God. But by the grace 
of God I am what I am, and that grace of his, 
bestowed upon me, did not prove ineffectual. I 
labored more abundantly than all the rest, yet not 
I, but the grace of God that is with me. But 
whether it is I or they, thus do I preach, and thus 
you came to believe. 


What the Denial of the Resurrection Involves 


If then, we are preaching Christ, that he rose 
from the dead, how are some of you saying that 
there is no resurrection from the dead? But if 
there is no resurrection from the dead, then not 
even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not 
been raised, then our preaching is vain, and vain 
also is your faith. More than that, we are detected 
in bearing false witness against God; because we 
testified of God that he raised Christ from the 
dead, whom he did not raise, if indeed the dead rise 
not. For if the dead rise not, neither has Christ 
arisen; and if Christ be not risen, your faith is 
vain, you are still in your sins. More than that, 
those who are sleeping in Christ have perished. If 
in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of 
all mankind most pitiable. 


466 


20 
21 


22 
23 
24 
25 


26 
27 


28 


29 


30 


31 


34 


I. CORINTHIANS 15 


The Pledge of Christ’s Resurrection 


But now, now, Christ is risen from the dead, the 
first-fruit of those who have fallen asleep. For 
since by man came death, by man came also the 
resurrection from the dead. For just as in Adam 
all die, so also in Christ will all be made alive. 
But each in his own order; Christ the first-fruits, 
then those who belong to Christ at his appearing. 
And then the end, when he shall hand over his 
kingdom to God his Father, after he has abolished 
all rule and authority and power. 

For he must rule until he has put all his enemies 
under his feet.* 

The last enemy that will be destroyed is Death. 

For 

He has put all things under his feet, 
but in that quotation All things are put under him, 
it is evident that God is excepted, who put all things 
under Him. For when everything is subjected to 
him, then the Son himself shall subject himself to 
Him who made them subject, that God may be all 
in all. 


Baptism for the Dead 


Else what shall they do who are baptized for the 
dead? If the dead are really not raised, why are 
they baptized for them? Yes, and why am I my- 
self exposed to danger every hour? Every day I 
am facing death, my brothers, I affirm it by that 
pride in you which I have through Christ Jesus 
our Lord. If after the manner of men I have fought 
with wild beasts at Ephesus, what good does it do 
me? If the dead do not rise, 

Let us eat and drink, 
For we shall be dead tomorrow, 
Do not deceive yourselves: 
Evil companionships ruin good morals. 
Wake up, do justly, cease from sin; for I say to 


=a) BASU Sie Set lei Ys WE 
“TA Reds soe TNs 


467 


I. CORINTHIANS 15 


your shame that some of you have no acquaintance 
with God. 


The Seed and the Fruit 


35 But some one will ask: 
“ How are the dead raised? and with what body 
are they coming? ” 
36 Foolish man! The seed you sow does not come to 
37 life unless it dies. And when you sow the seed 
you are not sowing the body that it will become, but 
bare grain, of wheat perhaps, or some other grain. 
38 But God gives it what body he pleases, and to each 
39 kind of seed its own body. All flesh is not the same 
flesh; there is human flesh, another flesh of animals, 
40 another of birds, another of fishes. There are both 
celestial bodies and bodies terrestrial; but the splen- 
dor of the celestial is one thing, and the splendor 
41 of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory 
of the sun, another of the moon, and another of 
the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 


The Spiritual Body: A Contrast 
42 So it is in the resurrection of the dead: 
It is sown in corruption, 
It is raised in incorruption; 


43 Sown in: weakness, 
It is raised in power; 
44 The body sown is animal, 


The body raised is spiritual. 
If there is an animal body, there is also a spiritual 
45 body. Thus it is written: 
The first man, Adam, became a living being,’ 
the last Adam, a life-giving Spirit. 
46 Now it is not the spiritual which is first, but the 
47 animal, and then the spiritual. The first man is of 
the earth, earthy; the second Man is of heaven. 
48 Like him who was of earth, are the earthy; and like 
49 Him who is of heaven, are the heavenly. As we have 
borne the likeness of him who was of earth, so also 
let us bear the likeness of Him who is of heaven. 


Gen. 2:7, 


468 


50 
51 


52 


53 
54 


55 


56 
57 


58 


1 


2 


I. CORINTHIANS 16 


We Shall Be Changed 


I tell you this, brothers, that flesh and blood can- 
not inherit the kingdom of God; nor can corruption 
inherit incorruption. Lo, I tell you a secret truth: 
we shall not all be sleeping, but we shall be changed, 
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, when the 
last trumpet sounds. For the trumpet will sound, 
and the dead will be raised, incorruptible, and we 
shall be changed. For this corruptible must be 
clothed with incorruption, and this mortal must be 
clothed with immortality. And when this mortal 
has been clothed with immortality, then will the 
words of Scripture come to pass, 

Death has been swallowed up in victory.* 

Where, Death, is thy victory? 

Where, Death, is thy sting?°® 
Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of 
sin is the Law. But thanks be to God, who has 
given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
So, my brothers beloved, stand firm, immovable, 
always abounding in work for the Lord, because 
you know that your toil is not fruitless in the 
Lord. 


41isa. 26 :-8, 
PUELOS ni cy mena 4 


XVI 
DIRECTIONS AND FAREWELL GREETINGS 


A Missionary Offering 


Now concerning the offering for the saints, you 
also are to do as I directed the church of Galatia. 
On the first day of each week let each of you put 
aside something, keeping it in store as he may 
prosper, so that when I come there may be no 
collections going on. On my arrival I will. send 
those whom you may accredit by letter to carry 
your bounty to Jerusalem. And if it is worth while 
for me to go too, they will accompany me. 


469 


I. CORINTHIANS 16 


Personal Plans 


5 Now I shall come to you after I have gone through 

6 Macedonia. I shall remain some time with you; 
possibly spending the winter, in order that you 
may help me forward in whatever journey I take. 

7 For I do not wish at this present time to see you 
merely in passing; but if the Lord permits, I hope 

8 to remain some time with you. I am staying for 

9 the present in Ephesus, until Pentecost; for a door 
has opened to me, great and effectual, and the 
opponents are many. 


Timothy to Be Welcomed 


10 If Timothy come, see to it that he is among you 
without trepidation; for he is doing the Lord’s 

11 work, as I am, so let no one disparage him. When- 
ever he comes to me, send him on his way in peace, 
for I am expecting him with the other brothers. 


Apollos to Come 


12 As for our brother Apollos, I have many times 
urged him to go to you with the others, but he was 
always unwilling to go to you at this time. He will 
come, however, whenever he has a good opportunity. 

13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, be manly, be 

14 strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 


Commending Stephanus 


15 ‘I beg you this, my brothers—you know the house- 
hold of Stephanus, that they were the first-fruits 
of Achaia, and that they devoted themselves to the 

16 service of the saints—so I want you also to show 
deference to such, and to every fellow worker, 

17 and laborer. I am glad that Stephanus and For- 
tunatus and Achaicus have arrived, for they have 

18 made up for your absence. They refresh my spirit 
as they do yours. So cultivate the acquaintance of 
such men. 


Greetings 


19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and 
Priscilla (Prisca), with the church that meets in 


470 


I. CORINTHIANS 16 


20 their house, greet you heartily in the Lord. All 
the brothers send greetings. Greet one another 
with a holy kiss. 

21 The greeting of me, Paul, with my own hand. 

22 If any one does not love the Lord, let him be ac- 
cursed. Our Lord is coming. 

23. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. 

24 . My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. 


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PAUL’S SECOND LETTER 
TO THE 


CORINTHIANS 


Date: Probably written from Macedonia during the 
third missionary journey, about 55 A. D. 


Occasion: From incidental allusions it would appear 
that Paul had written another letter to the 
Corinthians, now lost (though some sug- 
gest that the last four chapters of Second 
Corinthians may be part of it). Paul left 
Ephesus in much anxiety as to the recep- 
tion of his first letter. In Macedonia he 
met Titus, who brought him good news 
from Corinth, regarding the reception and 
prompt action of the church upon the let- 
ter. Titus, however, was forced to report 
that a stubborn minority refused to admit 
Paul’s authority, and were attacking him 
with cruel and persistent slander. 

This news was the occasion of the second 
letter to the Corinthians. It is an out- 
burst of passionate feeling in which the 
apostle defends his authority, and appeals 
to their love. 


is 


5) 
4 


8 


Il. CORINTHIANS 


I 


PAUL ADDRESSES HIMSELF TO AN 
OFFENDING CHURCH 


Greeting 

To the Church of God which is in Corinth, and to 
all the saints throughout Greece: from Paul, by 
God’s will an apostle of Christ, and from brother 
Timothy: Grace to you and peace from God our 
Father in the Lord Jesus Christ. 


Thanksgiving for God’s Comfort 

Thanks be to the God and Father of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, the Father of tender mercies and the 
God of all comfort, who ever comforts me in all my 
troubles, so that I may be continually able to com- 
fort those who are in any trouble by the comfort 
with which God is ever comforting me. For just as 
I have more than my share in the sufferings of the 
Christ, so also through the Christ I have more than 
my share of comfort. If I am afflicted, it is for 
your comfort and salvation; and if I am receiving 
comfort, it is for your comfort—a comfort pro- 
duced within you by your patient fortitude, under 
the same sufferings which I also am enduring. My 
hope for you is firm; for I know that as you are 
comrades in my sufferings, so also are you com- 
rades in my comfort. 


Thanksgiving for Deliverance 
Now, brothers, I want you to know about the 
troubles which befell me in Asia; how I was 


AT5 


9 


10 


11 


12 


18 
14 


15 
16 


ET 


18 
19 


20 


II. CORINTHIANS 1 


burdened altogether beyond my strength, so that I 
renounced all hope even of life itself. Indeed, I had 
in myself, and still have, the sentence of death, in 
order that I might not rely on myself, but on God 
who raises the dead to life. He delivered me from 
such a death, and will deliver me. On him I have 
set my hopes that he will continue to deliver me, 
while all of you also are helping me by your prayers; 
so that from many lips thanksgiving may rise on 
my behalf for the blessings vouchsafed to me 
through the intercessions of many. 


Paul’s Motives Pure 


For this is my proud boast, the testimony of my 
conscience, that it was in holiness and with pure 
motives before God, not in worldly wisdom, but in 
the grace of God, that I have conducted myself in 
the world, and above all in my relations with you. 
For I am writing to you nothing different from 
what you read aloud and very well recognize, and I 
hope will continue to recognize to the very end, as 
some indeed did recognize in part at least, that I 


am your cause of boasting, just as you will be mine 


on the Day of Jesus our Lord. 


Reasons for Postponing Visit 


And in this confidence I intended to visit you, 
before going elsewhere, that you might have a 
pleasure twice over. I intended to go by you into 
Macedonia, and to come again to you from Mace- 
donia, and by you to be sent forward on my way to 
Judea. In purposing this did I display “ eaprice ”? 
Or what I purpose do I purpose in a worldly way, so 
that it may mean either “ Yes, yes,” or “ No, no”? 
As God is faithful, my message to you is not now 
“Yes,” now “No.” For Jesus Christ, Son of God, 
who was proclaimed among you by us, that is, by 
Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not wavering 
between “ Yes” and “No,” but in him is the ever- 
lasting “ Yes.” For however many are the promises 
of God, in him they are “ Yes.” Therefore also 
through him let the Amen be said by our voices to 


476 


21 
22 
23 
24 


II. CORINTHIANS 2 


the glory of God. And he who has established me 
with you in the Anointed One, and has anointed me, 
is God. He has also set his seal upon me, and given 
me the pledge of his Spirit in my heart. 

But for my part I call God to witness, as my soul 
shall answer for it, that it was to spare you that I 
came not to Corinth (not that I am attempting to 
lord it over your faith, but rather to work with you 


_for your happiness) ; for your faith is stedfast. 


Ne 


Or 


Go ND 


10 
11 


II 
APOSTOLIC TRIALS AND SUCCESSES 


I decided that I would not visit you again in 
grief; for if I cause you grief, who is there to 
cause me joy except those whom I have grieved? 
And for this very reason I wrote to you, that I 
might not come only to be grieved by those who 
ought to give me joy; and because I trusted in you 
all, that my joy is the joy of all of you. For I 
wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish 
of heart, through many tears; not to pain you, put 
to convince you of my love, my abundant love for 
you. 


The Offender to Be Pardoned 


As to him who has been, and now is, causing 
pain, it is not | whom he has pained, but all of 
you—at least some of you (not to overstate the 
case). Sufficient for the offender is the punishment 
imposed by the majority; so that now you ought 
rather to forgive and comfort him, lest he should be 
overwhelmed by the excess of his grief. So I beg you 
to reinstate him in your love. For this very pur- 
pose also I wrote you (before), that I might test 
you, to see if you were obedient in every respect. 
If you forgive the man, I forgive him, too; for 
whatever I have forgiven has been forgiven in the 
presence of Christ, for your sakes, that I may not 
be overreached by Satan, for I am not ignorant of 
his devices. 


ATT 


II]. CORINTHIANS 3 


Apostolic Trials and Successes 


12 Now when I came to Troas to preach the gospel 
of Christ; although a door was opened to me in the 

13 Lord, I could get no peace of mind because I failed 
to find Titus, my brother. So I bade them good-bye 

14 and started off for Macedonia. But thanks be to 
God, who in every place is leading me in the train 
of Christ’s triumph, and is making manifest through 
me the knowledge of him, an odor of incense every- 

15 where. I am Christ’s fragrance upwafted unto God, 
among those who are being saved and those who are 

16 perishing; to these latter an odor of death to death, 
to the former, of life to life. For such service as 

17 this, who is sufficient? I am; for I am not like 
most, trafficking in the word of God, but rather 
from a sincere heart, like a man of God, I speak in 
Christ, in the very presence of God. 


III 


SOME CONTRASTS AND COMPARISONS 


You Are My Letter of Credit 


1 AmI beginning again to “ recommend” myself? 
Or do I need, as some do, letters of commendation 
2 either to you or from you? You are my letter, 
written on my heart, known and read by all men. 
3 Since all can see that you are a letter of Christ 
transcribed by me, written not with ink, but with 
the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of 
4 stone, but on human hearts as tablets. Such con- 
5 fidence I have through Christ before God. Not that 
I am sufficient in myself to reach any conclusion in 
my own wisdom; but my sufficiency is from God. 
6 It is he who has also made me sufficient as a min- 
ister of a new covenant; not of a letter but of a 
spirit; for the letter kills, but the spirit makes alive. 


The Glorious Faith 


7 If, however, the administration of death, written 
with letters and engraved on stones, began in glory, 


478 





8 
9 
10 
11 


12 
15 


14 


15 
16 


17 
18 


1 
2 


II. CORINTHIANS 4 


so that the children of Israel could not gaze steadily 
on the face of Moses, because of the glory of his 
face—a glory even then fading—how much more 
shall the ministry of the Spirit abide in glory? 
For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, far 
more is the ministry of righteousness radiant in 
glory. Indeed that which once was glorious’ has 
lost its glory, because of the glory which surpasses 
it. For if that which was fading came in glory, far 
more will that which ever abides be glorious. 


Comparison Between the Two Covenants 


Therefore, cherishing such a hope, I use great 
freedom of speech. I do not do as Moses did, who 
used to cover his face with a veil to keep the chil- 
dren of Israel from beholding the passing of a 
fading glory. Nay, their minds were made dull; 
for to this very day, at the public reading of the 
Old Testament, the same veil rests thereon, because 
it is not revealed to them that in Christ the veil is 
taken away. Yes, to this very day, whenever Moses 
is read, a veil lies on their hearts; but when their 
heart turns to our Lord the veil is stripped away. 
(The Lord means the Spirit, and where the Spirit 
of the Lord abides there is freedom.) And we all, 
with unveiled faces, reflecting like a mirror the 
glory of the Lord, are ourselves continually being 
transformed into the same likeness, from glory to 
glory, as by the Lord, the Spirit. 


1 Hxod. 34 : 80, LXX. 
1V 


THE SHINING LIFE 


God Shining in the Heart 


So then, as I have this ministry because of 
God’s mercy to me, I do not lose heart. I have 
renounced the hidden things of shame, not spending’ 
my life in craftiness, nor adulterating the word 
of God; but setting forth the truth openly, I strive 
to commend myself to every man’s conscience as in 


479 


II. CORINTHIANS 4 


3 the sight of God. But even if my gospel, too, is 
“veiled,” it is among those who are on the way to 

4 perish that it is “veiled.” Among them the god 
of this age has blinded the understanding of the 
unbelieving so that the sunshine of the gospel of the 

_ glorious Christ, who is the likeness of God, should 

2 not dawn upon them. It is not myself that I pro- 
claim, but Christ Jesus as Master, and myself your 

6 slave for Jesus’ sake. For God who said, “ Out of 
darkness light shall shine,’’ is he who has shone in 
my heart, that the sunrise of the knowledge of God 
may shine forth in the face of Christ. 


Shines Out to the World 


7 But I hold this treasure in an earthen vessel, in 
order that the surpassing greatness of the power 
8 may be from God, and not from myself. On every 
side 1 am hard pressed, yet not hemmed in; per- 
9 plexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not for- 
10 saken; struck down, but not destroyed. Wherever 
I go, I am always carrying about in my body 
the dying of Jesus, in order that the life also of 
Jesus may be made manifest in this body of mine. 
11 For, alive though I am, I am always given over 
to death for the sake of Jesus, that the life also of 
12 Jesus may shine forth in my dying flesh. So while 
death is working in me, life is working in you. 


Things Temporal and Things Eternal 

13 But having the same spirit of faith of which it 
is. written, 

I believed, and therefore have I spoken, 

14 I also believe and so I speak. For I know that He 
who raised from the dead the Lord Jesus, will 
raise me also with Jesus, and set me at your side in 

15 his presence. For everything is for your sakes, so 
that more abundant grace, because of the thanks- 
giving of many voices, might overflow to the glory 

16 of God. For this reason, as I have said, I do not 
lose courage, but even though my outward man is 


Se le te A), 
480 


ee 


17 
18 


1 


bo 


00 <4 


10 


11 


12 


Il. CORINTHIANS 5 


wasting away, my inward man is being renewed, 
day by day. For my light affliction, which is but 
for a moment, is working out for me a far more 
exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while I am 
gazing not at things seen, but at things unseen; for 
things seen are temporal, but things unseen are 
eternal. 


V 
THE AMBASSADOR OF CHRIST PLEADS 


The Earthly Tent; the Heavenly Mansion 


For I know, if this earthly tent of mine were 
struck, I have a mansion built by God, a house not 
made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in 
this tent I am groaning, earnestly longing to be 
under the cover of my heavenly habitation; if so 
be that being so covered, I shall not be found 
naked. For in this tent of mine I am groaning in 
deep trouble; not that I wish to be unclothed, but 
to be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be 
swallowed up in life. And He who has wrought 
me out for this very end is God, who has given 
me his Spirit as pledge. Therefore I am always 
of good courage, because I well know that while 
I am at home in the body, I am in banishment 
from the Lord, for I°am walking by faith, not by 
sight. So I have good courage, and am well pleased 
rather, to be in banishment from the body and to be 
at home with the Lord. And for this reason I also 
make it my ambition, whether at home or in exile, 
to please him perfectly. For we must all be made 
manifest, in our true characters, before the Judg- 
ment-seat of Christ; so that each one may receive 
according to that which he has done in his body, 
whether good or evil. 


The Fear and Love of God 


So, because I know the fear of God, I “ persuade 
men.”” What I am is manifest to God, and I hope 
manifest also to your conscience. I am not “ com- 


481 


II. CORINTHIANS 6 


mending myself to you again,” but I am giving you 
an occasion of boasting on my behalf, so that you 
may have.an answer ready for those who boast in 

13 externals, and not in the heart. For if I was 
“beside myself,” it was to God; or if I am now 

14 “of sound mind,” it is for you. For the love of 
Christ overmasters me;* because I thus judge that 

15 if One has died for all, then all have died; and that 
he died for all in order that the living may live 
no longer for themselves, but for Him who died 
and rose again for them. 


An Ambassador from Christ 


16 Therefore henceforth I know no one simply as a 
man—even if I have known Christ as a man, yet 
17 now I do so no longer. So there is a new creation 
when any man is in Christ. The old life has passed 
18 away, behold, the new is come. And all this is 
from God, who through Christ reconciled me to him- 
self, and gave me the ministry of reconciliation; 
19 how that God was in Christ reconciling a world to 
himself, not reckoning to men their trespasses; and 
that to me he has entrusted the message of that 
20 reconciliation. On Christ’s behalf, then, I come as 
ambassador. It is as though God was entreating 
you, through me, on Christ’s behalf I beg you to be 
21 reconciled to God. Him who knew no sin, in our 
behalf he has made to be sin; so that in him we 
might become the righteousness of God. 
1“The love of Christ overmasters me, lifts me up, crowds 


me on,’’ so does Doctor Saunders interpret the full content of 
thi§ rich expression. 


VI 
AN APPEAL FROM THE HEART 


1 As a worker with him I beseech you not to re- 
2 ceive the grace of God in vain. For he said: 

In an acceptable time have I heard thee, 

And in the day of salvation have I suecored thee 


1Tga. 49..: 8. 
482 


3 
4 


14 
15 
16 


II. CORINTHIANS 6 


Behold, now is the acceptable time! behold, now 
is the day of salvation! 


Paul’s Apostolic Labors 


I am giving no one a cause of stumbling in order 
that my ministry may not be discredited; but in 
every way I am striving to commend myself as 
God’s minister by stedfast endurance, by afflictions, 
by troubles, by distresses, by floggings, by imprison- 
ments; in riots, in labors, in sleepless watching, in 
hunger and thirst; with purity, understanding, 
patience, and kindness; by the Holy Spirit, by love 
sincere, by a true teaching and an energy divine;: 
by the weapons of righteousness, for attack or for 
defense, amid honor or dishonor, amid evil report 
and good report; as a deceiver and yet true; as un- 
known and yet well known; as at death’s door, yet, 
strange to tell, I live on; as chastened, but not 
killed; as grieved, but always glad; as poor, but 
making many rich; as having nothing, yet possess- 
ing everything. O Corinthians, I am unsealing my 
lips to you; my heart is wide open to you. There 
is no narrowness in my love; but the narrowness is 
in your own. I pray you, therefore, in fair exchange 
(I speak as to my children), let your hearts also 
be wide open to me. 


Wholly Consecrated 


* [Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers; for 
what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? 
what communion has light with darkness? What 
concord has Christ with Belial? What portion has 
a believer with an unbeliever? And what compact 
has God’s temple with idols? For we are a temple 
of the living God, as he has said: 

I will dwell among them, and walk about among 
them; 
I will be their God, and they will be my people? 


? Moffatt brackets 6:14 to 7:1, believing that this por- 


tion has been slipped in from some other letter of Paul’s to 
the Corinthians, since 7:2 evidently connects with 6:13. 


Sev. 261912; Hzek i372 27. 
483 


Il. CORINTHIANS 7 


17 Therefore, 

Come out from among them and separate your- 
selves, saith the Lord, touch not what is unclean; 

18 then I will receive you and will be to you a Father, 
and you shall be to me sons and daughters, saith 
the Lord Almighty.’ 

VII: 1 As these promises are ours, beloved, let us 
cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and 
of spirit, and perfect our holiness in the fear of 
God. ] 


CUSG aA walls EEOSCHr tl + SlhUce RSA. 4g Es 


Vil 
THE EFFECTS OF PENITENCE 


Make Room for Me in Your Hearts 


2 Make room for me in your hearts! TI have 
wronged no man, I have ruined no man, I have 
3 defrauded no man. J am not saying this to blame 
you, for as I have already said, I hold you in my 
4 heart to live together and to die together. Great 
is my faith in you; great is my cheerful assur- 
ance in you. I am filled with comfort; in spite of 
all my troubles, my heart is overflowing with joy. 


Titus Brought Comfort 


5 For even after I reached Macedonia, my flesh 
had no rest, but I was troubled on every hand. 

6 Without were fights; within, fears. But the God 
who comforts the down-hearted comforted me by 

7 the coming of Titus, and not alone by his coming, 
but also by the comfort you had been to him. For 
he told me of your eager longing, of your penitence, 
and of your zeal on my behalf, so that I was happier 
still. 


The Effects of Their Penitence 


8 | Even if I caused you pain by my letter, I do not 
regret it; though I did regret it when I saw that 


484 


ES, 


II. CORINTHIANS 8 


my letter had caused you pain, even for a time. 
9 But now I am giad; not because you were pained; 
10 but because your pain led you to repentance. For 
your pain came from God, and so you took no harm 
from me. For the pain which is from God works 
repentance leading to salvation, a repentance never 
to be regretted. But the world’s pain works death. 
11 Note the results of this pain which God permitted; 
what earnestness it has called forth in you, what 
explanations, what indignation, what alarm, what 
longing, what fervor, what punishment of wrong. 
In every way you have proved yourselves innocent 
12 in the matter. So then, even if I did write to you, 
it was not for the sake of the wrong-doer, or of 
him who had been wronged, but to make clear to 
yourselves in the sight of God your earnest care for 

13 me. This is what comforts me. 


Titus, too, Rejoices 
In addition to this comfort of mine, I have been 
made still happier by the happiness of Titus; be- 
14 cause his spirit was refreshed by you all. Although 
I have been boasting a little to him about you, l 
have not been put to shame. But as in every matter 
I have spoken the truth to you, so also my boast to 
15 Titus has been proved to be the truth. And his 
tender affection is all the greater toward you, when 
he calls to mind the obedience of you all, and the 
fear and trembling with which you received him. 
16 I rejoice that I have complete confidence in you. 


VIII 
OFFERING FOR THE POOR IN JERUSALEM 


Paul Instances the Wonderful Generosity of Macedonia 


1 Now, brothers, I wish to tell you about the grace 
of God which has been manifested in the churehes 
2 of Macedonia. For although in heavy trial of af- 
fliction, their overbrimming happiness, even in spite 
of their deep poverty, abounded to the opulence of 


A485 


Il. CORINTHIANS 8 


their unselfishness. For I can testify that accord- 
ing to their ability, and even beyond their ability, 
of their own free will, too, they have given help. 
4 With earnest entreaty they craved of me the privi- 
lege of a share in ministering to the saints [in 
5 Jerusalem]. And this not as I had expected, but 
in accordance with the will of God, they first gave 
6 themselves to God and to me. With the result that 
I have been begging Titus that, as he had been the 
one to begin the work with you, so he should com- 
7 plete among you this grace also. Now then, as 
you excel in everything, in faith and utterance and 
knowledge and all zeal and in your love to me, see 
to it that you excel in this grace also. 


ow 


And Appeals by the Example of Christ to the Con- 
tributors 


8 I do not say this by way of command, but by the 

zeal of others I am trying to prove the reality of 

9 your love. For you know the grace of our Lord 

Jesus Christ, how though he was rich, for your 

sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty 

10 might become rich. And I will give you my opinion 

in this matter; for this offering is fitting in your 

case, considering that you made a beginning before 

others, not only in the willingness to do something 
but also in actually doing something a year ago. 


Gifts Acceptable if They Represent the Giver 


11 So now complete the doing of it also, in order that 
just as there was the readiness to will, so there 
may be the accomplishment according to your 

12 means. For if there be first a willing mind, the gift 
is accepted according to what a man has, and not 

13 according to what he has not. Nor are other 

i4 people to be relieved, and you to be distressed; but 
burdens are to be equalized. Now your abundance 
at this present time is a supply for their want, in 
order that their abundance also may become a 
supply for your want; and so burdens be equalized, 

15 even as it is written, 


486 


16 
17 
18 


a 


20 
21 


22 


23 


24 


a 


2 


II. CORINTHIANS 9 


He who gathered much had nothing over, and he 
who gathered little did not lack.’ : 


Titus’ Mission 

But thanks be to God who has inspired in the 
heart of Titus the same zeal on your behalf that I 
have. For he not only consented to my request, but 
being thoroughly in earnest, comes to you of his own 
accord. And I am sending with him that brother 
whose fame in the service of the gospel is spread 
through all the churches. More than that, he is the 
one chosen by the churches to accompany me on 
my journey, in administering this gift of yours for 
the Lord’s glory. And this has my full consent, 
because I am on my guard in this, that no one 
should blame me, in respect to this bounty which 
I am administering. For I aim at being above 
reproach, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also 
in the sight of men. With them I am sending our 
brother of whose zeal I have often had proof in 
many ways, and who is now zealous because of his 
great confidence in you. As for Titus, remember 
that he is a partner of mine, and is also my asso- 
ciate in labors for you. As for the other brothers, 
remember that they are delegates from the churches, 
men in whom Christ is glorified. So show to the 
churches an evidence of your love, and a justifica- 
tion to these brothers of my boasting about you. 


1Bxod. 16: 18. 


IX 
THE LIBERAL SOUL SHALL BE MADE FAT 


Paul Wishes to Assure Their Preparedness 


It is indeed unnecessary for me to write you in 
regard to the ministration to the saints [at Jeru- 
salem], for I know how ready you are, and am 
always boasting about you to the Macedonians, tell- 
ing them that Greece has been ready for a year 
past; and your zeal has been a spur to the majority 


487 


3 


6 
7 


10 


11 


12 


18 


Il. CORINTHIANS 9 


of them. Nevertheless I am sending the brothers 
in order that my boast about you may not prove 
vain in this instance; so that, as I kept saying, you 
may be prepared. For if any Macedonians come 
with me and find you not ready, shame would come 
upon me (not to speak of you) in respect to this 
confidence. So I have thought that I must ask 
these brothers to visit you beforehand, and get your 
promised contribution ready in advance. I want it 
to be given of your bounty, not extorted from your 
covetousness. 


God Loves a “ Hilarious ” Giver 


Mark this; he who sows sparingly will also reap 
sparingly; and he who sows bountifully will also 
reap bountifully. But let each give according to the 
purpose of his heart; not grudgingly or under 
compulsion. It is a cheerful giver that God loves 
And God is able to give you an overflowing measure 
of every grace, so that all your wants of every 
kind may be supplied at all times, and you may give 
of your abundance to every good work; As it is 
written: 

He scattered broadcast, he gave to the poor; 
His almsgiving continues forever. 


God Honors Faithful Stewardship 


He who ever supplies seed to the sower, and 
bread for the food of man, will supply and make 
plentous your seed, and increase the harvest spring- 
ing up from your almsgiving. You yourselves will 
be enriched with all good things, that you may give 
ungrudgingly; and your gifts, of which I am the 
agent, will make men give thanks to God. Because 
the ministry of this contribution not only supplies 
the needs of the saints, but also overflows in many 
a thanksgiving to God. For this ministration proves 
you. On account of it men glorify God for your 
faithfulness to your profession of the gospel of 
Christ, and for the liberality of your gifts to them 


UProv. 22)! 8)/LXX. 3Ps, (222 11g, 
488 


Il. CORINTHIANS 10 


14 and to all. Moreover, in their prayers for you they 


15 


1 


3 
a 


7 


11 


will be longing after you, because of the exceeding 
grace of God that is resting upon you. 
THANKS BE TO Gop FoR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT! 


X 


PAUL VINDICATES HIS APOSTLESHIP 


“ The Terrible Meek ” 


Now I Paul, myself, appeal to you by the humble- 
heartedness and selflessness of Christ—Paul who “ in 
your presence is humble, but bold enough when he is 
absent ”—I beseech you, and I say, do not make me 
show my boldness, when I come in the boldness with 
which I think I shall show my courage against some 
who think that I am walking on the low level of the 
flesh. Though I do walk on the low level of the 
flesh, I do not make war as the flesh does; for the 
weapons of my warfare are not weapons of the 
flesh, but mighty for God, in pulling down all for- 
tresses. For I pull down imaginations and every 
crag that lifts itself against the knowledge of God. 
And I earry every thought:away into captivity and 
subjection to Christ; and I am fully prepared to 
punish every act of disobedience, when once your 
submission has been put beyond question. 


Paul’s Apostolic Authority 


Look these facts in the face. If any man is fully 
persuaded as regards himself that he belongs to 
Christ, let him consider again with himself, that 
just’as he is Christ’s, so also am I. If, however, 
I were to boast more loudly concerning the authority 
which the Lord gave me (not to cast you down, but 
to build you up), I should have no cause for shame. 
Let it not seem as if I were overawing you with my 
letters. “His letters imdeed,” says one, “are 
mighty and forcible, but his personality is weak, and 
his speech contemptible.” Let such a man assure 
himself that my actions, when I am present, will 


489 


12 


13 


14 


15 


16 


17 
18 


1 
2 


II. CORINTHIANS 11 


be just like my words in my letters when I am 
absent. 


Paul’s Authority Extends to Corinth 


I have not indeed the audacity to class myself 
among, or compare myself with, certain of the 
self-commenders; yet they are not wise in measur- 
ing themselves by one another and in comparing 
themselves with one another. I, however, will not 
indulge in undue boasting, but will confine it within 
the limits of the sphere to which God has assigned 
me—a sphere which reaches even to you. For I am 
not overstepping the limits of my authority, as 
though I reached you not; since I have already 
come even as far as Corinth to proclaim the gospel 
of Christ. I am not “ boasting beyond measure in 
the labors of others,” but it is my hope that, as 
your faith goes on increasing among yourselves, by 
the enlargement of my appointed limits, I may 
carry the gospel to countries beyond you; and not 
be boasting of work made ready to my hand within 
another man’s limit. Meanwhile, 

Let him who boasts, boast in the Lords 
For a man is proved worthy, not by his self-com- 
mendation, but when he is commended by the Lord. 


A Gh A ye 
XI 


PAUL REVIEWS AND DEFENDS HIS 
COURSE 


Paul Warns Against a New Gospel 


Would that you could put up with a little “ folly ” 
from me! Nay, do bear with me. I have a divine 
jealousy on your behalf; for I betrothed you to 
one only husband, even to Christ, that I might 
present you to him, a chaste virgin. But I fear 
lest, just as the serpent beguiled Eve in his crafti- 
ness, so your minds should be seduced from your 
single- mindedness and purity toward Christ. If in- 
deed some one is coming to preach another Jesus, 


490 


II. CORINTHIANS 11 


whom I did not preach, or you are receiving a Spirit 
other than you once received, or another gospel 
which you did not accept before, you would do well 

5 to bear with me. For I reckon that I am in no 

6 respect behind your superapostolic apostles. Yes, 
though I be unskilled in speech, at least I am not 
in knowledge; indeed I made this perfectly plain 
to you in all things and among all men. 


Why Paul Abrogated His Right to Maintenance 


7 Is it a sin, forsooth, that I humbled myself that 
you might be exalted, in preaching the gospel to 
8 you free of cost? Other churches I spoiled, and 
9 took their wages to do you service. Even when I 
lacked the actual necessities of life while I was with 
you, I was a burden to no one; for whatever I 
lacked, the brothers from Macedonia supplied, when 
they came. So I kept myself from being a burden 
10 to you in any way, and will continue to do so. As 
the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine 
shall not be stopped within the boundaries of 
11 Greece! And why ? Because I love you not? God 
12 knows Ido. I am doing and will continue to do this 
in order to cut away the ground from under those 
who wish some cause for slander; and that the 
ground of their boasting may appear as does mine. 
13 For such fellows are sham apostles, deceitful work- 
ers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 
14 No wonder! for Satan himself disguises himself as 
15 an angel of light. It is no great marvel, then, if his 
ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of 
righteousness. Their end will be according to their 
works. 


Paul Uses Irony 


16 I say again, let no one think me a fool. Onryif 
you must, at least bear with me as a fool, that I, 
17 too, may do a little boasting. What I am about to 
say I am not speaking by the Lord’s command, but 
as it were in pure folly, in this boldness of boasting. 
18 Since so many are making worldly boasts, I shall 
19 boast, too! Although you are so wise, you put up 


A491 


20 


21 
22 


23 


24 


25 


32 
33 


Il. CORINTHIANS 11 


with fools willingly enough! You put up with it, 
though they make slaves of you, live on you, seize 
your property, lord it over you, even strike you in 
the face, in the way of degradation! 


Adventures in the Gospel 


I say that I was weak, and yet for whatever 
reason any one is bold (I speak in mere folly) I too 
am bold. Are they Hebrews? Soam I. Are they 
descendants of Israel? So am I. Are they descen- 
dants of Abraham? SoamI. Are they ministers of 
Christ? (1 speak as though I were beside myself), 
such, far more, am I; in labors more abundant, in 
imprisonments also more abundant, in floggings be- 
yond measure, in deaths often. Five times at the 
hands of the Jews, I have received one short of forty 
lashes. Three times I have been scourged by the 
Romans; once I have been stoned; three times have 
I been shipwrecked; a night and a day have I been 
adrift in the open sea. My journeys have been 
many; in perils of rivers, in perils of bandits; in 
perils from my countrymen, in perils from the 
heathen; in perils in the city, in perils in the wilder- 
ness; in perils on the sea, in perils among false 
brothers; in toil and weariness, often in sleepless 
watching, in hunger and thirst, often without any- 
thing to eat; in cold and nakedness. Not to mention 
other things, there is the crowding pressure of each 
day upon me, the care of all the churches. Who is 
weak, and I am not weak? ‘Who is caused to 
stumble, but I burn with indignation? If boast I 
must, it shall be concerning my weakness. The God 
and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for- 
ever, knows that I.am telling the truth. 


Paul’s Escape from Damascus 


In Damascus, the governor under Aretas the 
King, kept guard over the city of the Damascenes, to 
arrest me; but through an opening in the wall I 
was let down in a basket, and so escaped out of his 
hands. 


492 


1 
2 


10 


11 


II. CORINTHIANS 12 


XII 
VISIONS AND VISITATIONS 


Lofty Visions and Humiliating Limitations 

I am forced to boast, though it is unprofitable, but 
I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 
I know a Christian man who, fourteen years ago 
(whether in the body I know not, or out of the body, 
I know not. God knows), was caught up—this man 
of whom I speak—even into the third heaven. And 
I know such a man (whether in the body or apart 
from the body I know not, God knows), who was 
caught up into Paradise, and heard unutterable 
words which no human being is permitted to utter. 
Of such a one I will boast; but on my own behalf 
I will not boast except in my weaknesses. If I 
should choose to continue boasting I should not 
be foolish, for I should be speaking the truth. But 
I refrain, lest by the stupendous grandeur of the 
revelation any one should estimate me beyond what 
he sees in me, or hears from me. It was for this 
reason, lest I should be over-elated, that there was 
given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of 
Satan, to buffet me, jest I should be over-elated. 
Concerning this, three times over I supplicated 
the Lord that it might leave me; but he has an- 
Swered me: 

“My grace is sufficient for you; it is in weakness 
that my power is perfected.” 

Most gladly therefore will I boast rather of my 
weakness, that over me like a tent may be pitched 
the power of Christ. That is why I rejoice in weak- 
nesses, in ill-treatment, in troubles, in persecutions 
and calamities for Christ’s sake. For when I am 
weak, then am I strong. 


The Signs of a True Apostle 


I.am become a fool—you have forced me to; for 
you yourselves ought to have been my vindicators. 
In no respect am I inferior to these superapostolic 


493 


II. CORINTHIANS 12 


12 apostles, even though I am nothing. In truth the 
signs of the true apostle were wrought among you 
in all patience by signs and marvels and powers. 

13 In what respect, then, were you inferior to the other 
churches, except that I myself was not a burden 
to you? Forgive me this wrong! 


Paul’s Approaching Visit 


14 And now for the third time I am preparing to 
visit you. I will not be a burden to-you, for I am 
not seeking yours, but you. For the children ought 
not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for 

15 the children. For my part, I will most gladly 
spend, yea, and will myself be spent, for your souls. 
If I love you more abundantly, am I to be loved the 
less? 


Paul and Titus 


16 But though it be granted that I was not a burden 
to you, yet, you say, this was my cunning with which 

17 I caught you by a trick. Did I make gain of you 

18 through any of those whom I sent to you? I urged 
Titus to go, and with him I sent our brother. Did 
Titus make gain of you? And did I not walk in 
the same spirit as he did? Did I not take the very 
same steps? 


a 


Paul Acts as in God’s Sight 


19 Do you think that all this time I am defending 
myself to you? It is before the presence of God 
that I am speaking in Christ; and all, beloved, for 

20 your upbuilding. For I dread that perhaps, when 
I come, I may not find you to be such as I wish, 
and that I may be found by you such as you do not 
wish; I dread lest there should be quarrels, jealousy, 
tempers, party spirit, slandering, gossip, arrogance, 

21 tumults; and lest when I come again my God may 
humble me before you, and lest I shall mourn for 
many of those who have sinned before, and have 
not repented of the impurity and immorality and 
wantonness which they have practised. 


494 


II. CORINTHIANS 18 


XIII 
CONCLUDING WORDS 


Paul Will Investigate and Punish 
1 This will be my third visit to you. 
Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses shall 
every word be confirmed. 
2 I have said formerly, and I now forewarn you as 
when I was present the second time, so now when 
I am absent, saying to those who had sinned before, 
and to all the rest, 
“If I come again, I will not spare,” 
3 since you want a proof of Christ who is speaking 
in me, he who is not feeble toward you, but power- 
4 ful among you. For though he was crucified 
through weakness, yet he now lives through the 
power of God. I also am weak, sharing in his 
weakness, but I shall live with him by the power 
of God. 


Watch and Pray 


5 Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith; 
put your own selves to the proof. Or do you not 
know, your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you, 

6 unless indeed you fail to abide the proof? But I 

7 hope you will find that I abide the proof. And my 
prayer to God is that you may do no evil; not in 
order that I may appear approved, but that you 
may do what is noble, though I should seem unable 

8 to abide the proof. For I have no power against the 

9 truth, but only in defense of the truth. For I am 
always glad whenever I am weak, but you are 
strong. For this also I am praying, for your per- 

10 fect reformation. For this reason I am writing 
thus while absent, so that when I come, I may not 
have to deal sharply, according to the authority 
which the Lord gave me for building up, and not 
for pulling down. 


1Deut. 19 : 15. 
495 


II. CORINTHIANS 18 


Finally Brothers 


11 Finally, brothers, farewell. Aim at perfection, 
take courage, be of one mind, live in peace; so shall 
the God of love and peace be with you. 

12,18 Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the 
saints salute you. 

14. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love 
of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be 
with you all. 


A96 


PAUL’S LETTER 
TO THE 


GALATIANS 


Date and Authorship: 


Adressed to: 


Occasion: 


Contents: 


Comment: 


Key Thought: 


Written by Paul from Ephesus 
about 54 A. D. 


The churches in Galatia founded 
by Paul during his second 
missionary journey, and later 
revisited by him on his third 
missionary journey. 

Galatia was a mountainous dis- 
trict of Asia Minor, peopled 
by the descendants of those 
hordes of wild Gauls who in 
the third century B. C. swept 
down upon the Roman Empire. 


News reached Paul that Juda- 
izers were leading his con- 
verts astray by trying to get 
them to submit to the rite of 
circumcision, and by casting 
doubt upon Paul’s apostolic 
calling and authority. 


A passionate insistence upon the 
validity of his apostolic call- 
ing and authority; a recount- 
ing of biographical data to 
substantiate his claims; a 
clear-cut exposition of the 
nature of the gospel as a 
revelation of a new way of 
life, of freedom, of faith. 


This epistle is the Scripture 
basis for the Protestant Ref- 
ormation. Luther was led 
into the light by its affirma- 
tion, “ The just shall live by 
faith.” 


“No rite or ceremony is of the 
essence of the Christian Re- 
ligion.”—Lyman Abbott. 


i 


1 


2 


6 


ff 


10 


GALATIANS 


I 
CHIEFLY BIOGRAPHICAL 


Greeting 


Paul, an apostle sent not from men nor by any 
man, but by Jesus Christ and by God the Father 
who raised him from the dead; with all the brothers 
who are with me: To the churches of Galatia, 
greeting. 

Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, 
and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for 
our sins, that he might deliver us from this present 
evil age in accordance with the will of our God 
and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. 
Amen. 


Astonished at Their Fickleness 


I am amazed that you are so soon shifting your 
ground, and deserting him who called you by the 
grace of Christ, for another gospel, which indeed 
is not another; only there are certain individuals 
who are troubling you, and desiring to pervert the 
gospel of Christ. But even though I myself or an 
angel from heaven were to preach any gospel other 
than that which I did preach to you, let him be 
accursed. I have said it before, and I now repeat 
it, if any one is preaching a gospel to you other 
than that which you have received, let him be 
accursed. Think you that I am now trying to con- 
ciliate men or God? Or am I “seeking to please 
men’? If I were still seeking to please men, I 
should not be a slave of Christ. 


499 


11 
12 


13 


14 


15 
16 


17 


18 


24 


1 


GALATIANS 2 


Christ Himself Inspired Paul’s Teaching 


For I would have you know, brothers, that the 
gospel I.preach is not man-made; for neither did 
I myself receive it from man, nor by man was I 
taught it, but by a revelation [an apocalypse] of 
Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former 
conduct in Judaism, how furiously I used to per- 
secute the church of God, and how I kept seeking to 
root it out; and how in my zeal for Judaism I out- 
stripped many of my own age and nation, in my 
special zeal for the traditions of my forefathers. 
But when God who had set me apart from my very 
birth, and had called me by his grace, was pleased 
to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach his 
gospel among the Gentiles, without: consulting a 
human being, or even going up to Jerusalem to see 
those who had been apostles before me, I went off 
at once to Arabia, and on my return came back to 
Damascus. 


Biographical Data 


Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to 
get acquainted with Peter, and spent two weeks 
with him. I saw no other apostle except James, 
the Lord’s brother. (In what I am now writing, I 
call God to witness that I am telling the truth.) 
Then I went into the districts of Syria and Cilicia. 
But to the churches of Christ in Judea I was per- 
sonally unknown; only they used to hear it said, 

“He who was once persecuting us is now preach- 
ing the gospel of the very faith which he once 
tried to ruin.” 

And they were giving glory to God on my account. 


II 


PAUL REBUKES PETER IN DEFENSE OF 
GOSPEL PRINCIPLES 


Paul’s Ministry Recognized by Jerusalem 
Fourteen years later I went up to Jerusalem again, 


2 with Barnabas, and took Titus also with me (I 


500 


GALATIANS 2 


went up at that time in obedience to a revelation). 
And I laid before them the gospel which I am wont 
to preach among the Gentiles. I did this privately 
before those in authority, lest by any means I 
should be running, or should already have run, in 

3 vain. But although Titus, my companion, was a 
Greek, they did not compel even him to be circum- 

4 cised. Yet there were false brethren who had crept 
in to spy out the freedom we enjoy in Christ Jesus, 

5 in order to enslave us again. To them we did not 
yield submission even for an hour, in order that 
the truth of the gospel might abide unshaken among 
you. 


Endorsed by Those in Authority 


6 But those in authority—what they once were 
makes no difference to me; God is no respecter of 
persons—those I say who were in authority had no 

7 additions to make to my message. On the contrary, 
when they saw that I had been entrusted with the 
gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had 

8 with the gospel for the circumcised (for he who 
had equipped Peter for the apostleship to the cir- 
cumcised, equipped me also for the apostleship to 

9 the Gentiles), and when they recognized the grace 
which had been given to me, James and Cephas and 
John, then thought to be pillars, gave to Barnabas 
and to me the right hand of fellowship. They 
agreed that we should go to the Gentiles and they 

10 to the Jews. They stipulated only that we should 

remember the poor, which very thing indeed I was 

quite eager to do. 


Peter Rebuked by Paul 


11 But when Cephas came to Antioch I resisted him 
12 to his face, because he stood self-condemned. For 
until certain men came from James he used to eat 
with the Gentile Christians, but when they came, he 
began to draw back and to separate himself, because 
13 he was afraid of the circumcision party. And the 
rest of the Jewish Christians also dissimulated 
with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away 


501 


GALATIANS 3 


14 by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they 
were not walking a straight path, in the presence of 
the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them 
all: 

“If you, although you are a Jew, live like the 
Gentiles and not like the Jews, why do you try to 
compel the Gentiles to become Jews? 

15 “We are Jews by birth, and not ‘ Gentile sin- 

16 ners’; yet because we know that no man is justified 
by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus 
Christ, we ourselves also have put our faith in 
Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by the faith 
of Christ, and not by the works of the Law; for 

“By the works of the Law shall no flesh be 
justified.” + 


Dead to the Law; Alive to Christ 


17 But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we 
ourselves also have been found to be sinners, is 
18 Christ then a minister of sin? Far from it! For if 
I am rebuilding the very things which I destroyed, 
19 I am proving myself a transgressor. For it is 
through law I died to law, in order to live to God. 
20 I have been crucified with Christ, so it is no longer 
I who am living, but it is Christ who is living in 
me; and the life I am now living in the fiesh, 1 am 
living in the faith of the Son of God who loved me 
21 and gave himself up for me. I do not annul the 
grace of God; for if righteousness comes by way 
of the Law, then indeed Christ died for nothing. 


DIPS Laon oe 


Iil 
THE CONTRAST BETWEEN LAW AND GRACE 


Bewitched from Their True Allegiance 
1 O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you? 
You, before whose very eyes Jesus Christ was pla- 
2 carded as crucified! Answer me this one question: 
“When you received the Spirit, was it from 


502 


GALATIANS 38 


doing what the Law commands or from believing 
the message heard? ” 
3 Are you so without sense? After beginning with 
4 the Spirit, will you now end with the flesh? Did 
you have such experience to no purpose—if indeed 
5 it was really to no purpose? Does he then, who 
supplies you with his Spirit and works miracles 
among you, do it because you do what the law 
commands or because you believe the message 
6 heard? Even as 
Abraham believed God and it was counted to him 
for righteousness? * 


Faith Produces Acceptance with God 


7 Notice then that the true sons of Abraham are 
8 children of faith. And the Scripture, anticipating 
God’s justification of the Gentiles by faith, an- 
nounced the gospel to Abraham beforehand in the 
words, 
In thee shall all the Gentiles be blessed.” 
9 So then they who are children of faith are blessed 
10 with Abraham the faithful; but a curse rests on 
those who have their root in the works of the Law; 
for it is written: 
Cursed is every one that continues not in all the 
things written in the Book of the Law, to do them.* 


“ The Just Shall Live by Faith” 


11 And it is manifest that by the Law no man is justi- 
fied in the sight of God: because 
The just shall live by faith 
12 and the Law has nothing to do with faith, but 
declares, 
The man that has done these things shall lwe 
therein.® 
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law 
by becoming a curse for us (for it is written, 
Cursed is every one who is hanged upon a tree) ,° 


> Gen. 45 956. SEabo ce elle. 
2Gen. 12, : 3. 5 Ley. 18 : 5. 
2 Deut. 27,;: 26. 6 Deut. 21 2°23: 


503 


GALATIANS 3 


14 to the end that in Christ Jesus the blessing of 


15 
16 


17. 


18 


sR) 


20 
21 


22 


23 


24 


25 


Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that 
through faith we might receive the promised Spirit. 


The Covenant Not Abrogated by Law 


Let me illustrate, brothers, from every-day life. 
When once a human testament is made, and formally 
ratified, no one sets it aside or adds to it. Now it 
was to Abraham that the promises were spoken, 
and to his offspring. God did not say, “ offsprings ” 
as if speaking of many, but “and to your offspring,” 
as of one; and this is Christ. I mean to say that 
the testament which God had already ratified could 
not be annulled by the Law which came four hun- 
dred and thirty years later, so as to make the 
Promise void. For if the inheritance comes from 
law, it no longer comes from a promise; but God 
did give it as a free gift to Abraham by a 
promise. 


The Real Function of the Law 


To what purpose, then, was the Law? It was im- 
posed later for the sake of transgressions, until the 
“ Offspring ”’ should come to whom the promise had 
been made. It was arranged through angels by the 
hand of a mediator. (Now a mediator implies more 
than one person, but God is only one.) Is the Law 
then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not; 
for if a law had been given which could make alive, 
then righteousness would actually have come from 
law; but the Scripture has shut up the whole world 
in prison together under sin, in order that the 
promise due to faith in Jesus Christ might be given 
to those who have faith. 


The Law a Schoolmaster 


Before the Faith came we were perpetual pris- 
oners under the Law, in preparation for the destined 
faith about to be revealed. So the Law has been 
our tutor-slave [our pedagogue] to lead us to Christ, 
so that we may be justified by faith ; but now that 
the Faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor- 


504 


26 


27 
28 


29 


1 


for) 


8 
9 


10 


GALATIANS 4 


slave. You are all sons of God through your faith 
in Jesus Christ. 


The All-inclusive Gospel 


For all of you who were baptized into Christ, 
have clothed yourselves with Christ. In him there 
is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave 
nor free, there is no male and female; for you are 
all one in Christ Jesus. And,/if you belong to 
Christ, then you are the descendants of Abrakam, 
heirs according to the promise. 


IV 
CONTRAST BETWEEN SLAVE AND SON 


Our Sonship in Christ 


What I mean is this: As long as the heir is a 
child, he differs in no respect from a slave, though 
he be the owner of the whole inheritance; but is 
under the control of guardians and trustees, until the 
time appointed by his father. So we Jews also, 
when we were children, were held in bondage under 
the empty externalities of the world. But when the 
fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son, 
born of a woman, born under law, to redeem from 
captivity those under law, in order that we might 
receive our sonship. And because you are sons, 
God sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, 
crying, “ Dear, dear Father!” So each one of you 
is no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an 
heir, too, through God’s grace. 


Formal Acts of Worship Worthless 


But once, when you Gentiles had no knowledge of 
God, you were slaves to gods which have no real 
being. Now, however, when you have come to know 
God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that 
you are beginning to turn back to those weak and 
beggarly externalities, eager to be in bondage to 
them again? You are scrupulous, are you, in ob- 


505 


GALATIANS 4 


serving “days” and “ months” and “ seasons” and 
11 “years”? I am alarmed about you for fear lest 
I may have bestowed labor on you to no purpose. 


Paul Appeals to Their Past 


12 Brothers, I beseech you, become as I am, because 
I also have become as you are. You never did me 

18 any wrong; on the contrary, you know that although 
it was illness which brought about my preaching the 

14 gospel to you at my first visit, and although my 
bodily affliction was a trial to you, you did not 
scoff at it nor spurn me, but welcomed me like an 

15 angel of God, like Christ Jesus himself. Why then 
did you account yourselves so happy? (For I bear 
you witness that if you could you would have torn 

16 out your own eyes and given them to me.) Am I 
then become your enemy, because I am telling you 
the truth? 


Warning Against False Friends 


17 These men are courting your favor to no good 
purpose. They want to isolate you, so that you 

18 will be courting their favor. It is always an honor- 
able thing to have your favor sought in an honor- 
able cause, always, and not only when I am with 

19 you. O my little children, of whom I travail again 

20 in birth until Christ be formed within you! How 
I wish I could be with you now, that I might change 
my tone; for I am perplexed about you. 


The Slave Boy and the Heir 


21 Tell me, you who wish to be subject to the Law, 
22 why do you not listen to the Law? For it is writ- 
ten that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave 
23 woman and one by the free woman; but while the 
son by the slave woman was born according to the 
flesh, the son by the free woman was born in fui- 
24 filment of a promise. Now all this is an allegory, 
for these women are the two covenants; one from 
Mount Sinai, which is Hagar bearing children into 
25 bondage (for the word Hagar stands for Mt. Sinai 
in Arabia and represents the present Jerusalem 


506 


26 
27 


28 
29 


NV: 


) 


Or 


GALATIANS 5 


who with her children is in bondage). But the 
Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our 
mother. For it is written, 
Rejoice, O thou barren one who dost never bear, 
Break forth in joy, thou that dost not travail; 
For the children of the desolate woman are many, 
Yea, more than hers who has a husband. 


The Sons of the Free Woman 


But you, brothers, are like Isaac, children of the 
promise; but just as in old times the son born by 
the fiesh used to persecute the son born by the 
power of the Spirit, so also it is now. But what 
does the Scripture say? 

Send away the slave-woman and her son; for the 

slave’s son shall not be heir along with the son of 
the free woman.’ 
So, brothers, we are the children of no slave woman, 
but of the free woman. For freedom did Christ set 
1 us free; stand firm then, and do not be again 
entangled in a yoke of bondage. 


LTga p+ s Ly 
Gen 2. 3 DO. 


V 
TWO NATURES STRUGGLING WITHIN 


In Christ No Room for Legalism 


Listen to me! I, Paul, declare to you that if you 
are to continue to follow the rite of circumcision, 
Christ will be of no profit to you. I solemnly testify 
to every man who submits to circumcision that he 
obligates himself to keep the whole Law. If you 
are being justified by law, you are cut off from 
Christ; you are fallen away from grace. But we 
are not, for we through the Spirit are eagerly 
waiting by faith for a hope of righteousness (a 
hope well founded) ; because in Christ neither cir- 
cumcision has any value, nor uncircumcision, but 
faith which works through love. 


507 


7 
8 
9 
10 


11 


12 


13 
14 


15 


16 


i, 
18 


19 


20 


GALATIANS 5 


Warning Against Judaism 

You were running your race nobly. Who hindered 
you from obeying the truth? The influence brought 
to bear does not come from him who is calling 
you. A little leaven is leavening the whole lump. 
As for me, I am fully trusting you in the Lord that 
you will be no otherwise minded; but he who is 
trying to unsettle you will have to bear his punish- 
ment, whoever he may be. But I, brothers, if I 
“still preach circumcision,’ why am I still per- 
secuted? Then surely the stumbling-block of the 
Cross has ceased to be an obstacle! Would to God 
that those who are trying to unsettle you would 
even have themselves mutilated. 


The Law of Love 


For you, brothers, were called for freedom; only 
do not make your freedom an excuse for self- 
indulgence, but in love enslave yourselves to one 
another. For the whole Law has been fulfilled in 
this one precept, 

Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself+ 
But if you are always biting and devouring one 
another, take heed lest you be utterly consumed one 
by another. 


“T Feel Two Natures Struggling Within Me” 

This is my meaning: Let your steps be guided 
by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires 
of the flesh. For the desire of the flesh is against 
that of the Spirit, and the desire of the Spirit is 
against that of the flesh, for they two are antagon- 
istic, so that you may not do those things that you 
wish. But if you are habitually led by the Spirit 
you are not under law. 


The Works of the Flesh 


Now the works of the flesh are manifest; such, 
for instance, as fornication, impurity, indecency, 
idol-worship, sorcery, quarrels, party-spirit, jeal- 


+ Lev alG }: 318; 
508 


21 


22 
23 
24 
25 


26 


1 


So Ot 


GALATIANS 6 


ousy, passionate anger, intrigues, factions, sectari- 
anism, envy, drunkenness, revelings, and things like 
these. I tell you beforehand, as I have already told 
you, that those who practise such sins shall not in- 
herit the kingdom of God. 


The Fruits of the Spirit 


But the harvest-fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, 
peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, fidelity, 
gentleness, and self-control; against such there is 
no law. And those who belong to Christ have cruci- 
fied the flesh with its passions and appetites. If 
we are living by the Spirit, let us also keep step 
in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provok- 
ing one another, envying one another. 


VI 
NEW CREATURES IN CHRIST 


Restore the Fallen 


Even if any one should be overtaken in a fault, 
brothers, you that are spiritual ought, in a gentle 
spirit, to restore such a one, each one of you look- 
ing to himself, lest you too be tempted. Ever be 
bearing one another’s burdens, and so be fulfilling 
the law of Christ. If a man fancies himself to be 
somebody when he is really nobody he is deceiving 
himself. Let each one test his own work, and he 
will then have something to be proud of by compar- 
ing himself with himself, and not with any one 
else; for every one must carry his own pack load. 
He, however, who is being taught in the message, 
should always share with his instructor in all the 
good things which he possesses. 


We Reap What We Sow 

Be not deceived. God is not mocked. Whatever 
a man sows, that will he also reap. The man who 
is sowing to his flesh will of the flesh reap corrup- 
tion; but he who is sowing to the Spirit will of 


509 


GALATIANS 6 


9 the Spirit reap life eternal. And let us not be 


weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall 


10 reap if we faint not. So then, as we have oppor- 


11 
12 


13 


14 


15 


16 


17 


18 


tunity, let us do good to all men, but especially to 
those who are of the household of faith. 


Glorying in the Cross 


See with what large letters I have written to you 
in my own handwriting! Those who are trying to 


.compel you to be circumcised are such as wish to 


make a fair show in the flesh, only that they may 
not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. Even 
those who are being circumcised, are not themselves 
keeping the Law, but they want you to be circum- 
cised so that they may glory in your flesh. God 
forbid that I should glory in anything except in the 
cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, upon which the 
world has been crucified to me and I have been 
crucified to the world. For in Jesus Christ neither 
is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but 
a new creation. On all who will govern their lives 
by this rule and on the Israel of God may peace and 
mercy rest. 

From this time forth let no one trouble me, for 
I bear branded in my body the marks of J esus, my 
Master. 


Closing Greeting 


May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with 
your spirit, brothers. Amen. 


510 





PAUL’S LETTER 
TO THE 


EPHESIANS 


Date: Written by Paul probably during his 
first imprisonment at Rome, about 
ALD s02- 


Characteristics: The letter was probably a circular 
letter addressed not only to the 
Ephesian Church, but intended to 
be passed to other cities also. It 
was called, sometimes, “‘ The Letter 
to Laodicea.” 

The dominant thought in Ephesians 
is the Universal Christ in his 
Church; the glorious unity of the 
Church in Christ, its living Head. 

Its key-words are: (1) “In Christ,” 
used fourteen times; (2) ‘“ walk,” 
in the sense of a daily way of life, © 
as for example, “ Walk in love,’ — 
“Walk in good works”; (8) “ae- 
cording to,” used nine times. 

The epistle is divided into two parts: 
The first, doctrinal, chapters 1 to 
3; the second, practical, chapters 
4 to 6. 

“‘ Ephesians is the Alps of the New 
Testament.”—Webb-Peploe. 





1 
2 


3 


A 
5 


7 
8 
9 


10 


11 


EPHESIANS 


: 
GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE IN CHRIST 


Greeting 

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of 
God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and to the 
faithful in Christ Jesus, grace to you and peace 
from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 


God’s Eternal Purpose 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, who has blessed us in every spiritual bless- 
ing in the heavenly realms in Christ. Even as he 
chose us in him before the foundation of the world 
to be holy and without blemish in his sight. For 
in his love he predestined us (such was the good 
pleasure of his will) to adoption for himself as sons 
through Jesus Christ, and to the praise of his glori- 
ous grace which he graciously bestowed upon us in 
the Beloved. 


To Consummate All Things in Christ 

It is in him we have deliverance, the forgiveness 
of our trespasses, through his blood; so abundantly 
did he lavish upon us the riches of his grace in all 
wisdom and understanding, when he made known 
to us the secret purpose of his will. He made known 
to us, I say, that good pleasure which he purposed in 
himself for the government of the fulness of the 
ages, that all things in heaven and earth alike 
should be gathered up in Christ, as Head. 


Sealed in the Spirit: Both Jew and Gentile 
It is he in whom we [Jews] also have our inheri- 
tance, having been chosen beforehand according to 


518 


12 


13 


14 


15 
16 


17 


18 


og 


20 


21 
22 


23 


1 


EPHESIANS 2 


the purpose of Him who executes all things accord- 
ing to the counsel of his will, that we who first 
hoped in Christ should be for the praise of his glory. 
And in him, because you listened to the proclama- 
tion of the truth, the evangel of your salvation, and 
trusted it, you Gentiles too were sealed with the 
promised Holy Spirit, who for the praise of his 
glory is the pledge of our common heritage, unto 
the complete redemption of his purchased property. 


Thanksgiving and Intercession 


For this reason I also, from the time when I 
heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which prevails 
among you, and your love to all the saints, do not 
cease to praise God for you, whenever I mention you 
in my prayers. I am praying that the God of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father most glorious, may 
grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation, through 
an intimate knowledge of himself; and that the 
eyes of your heart may be flooded with light so 
that you may understand what is the hope of his 
calling, what the wealth of the glory of his inheri- 
tance in the saints, and what the surpassing great- 
ness of his might in us who believe, as seen in 
the energy of that resistless might which he exer- 
cised in raising Christ from the dead, and in seat- 
ing him at his right hand in the heavenly heights, 
far above all hierarchies and authorities and powers 
and dominions and every name that is named, not 
only in this age but in that which is to come. God 
has put all things under Christ’s feet, and placed 
him as Head over all in the church, which is his 
body, the fulness of Him who fills the universe. 


II 


CHRIST, THE GREAT RECONCILER 


The Gentiles, Too, Are Included 


And so God has given life to you [Gentiles] also, 
who were once dead in your trespasses and sins, 


514 


a ——— = 


2 


OT 


11 
12 


14 


15 


EPHESIANS 2 


in which you passed your lives after the way of this 
world, under the sway of the Prince of the Powers 
of the Air, the spirit who is now working among 
the sons of disobedience. 


Christ Raises the Gentiles to New Life 


And among them we all once passed our lives, in- 
dulging the passions of our flesh, carrying out the 
dictates of our senses and temperament, and were 
by nature the children of wrath like all the rest. 
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the 
great love with which he loved us, even while we 
were dead in our trespasses, made us live together 
with Christ (it is by grace you have been saved) : 
together with him He raised us from the dead, and 
together with Christ Jesus seated us in the heavy- 
enly realm, in order that he might show to the 
ages to come the amazing riches of his grace by his 
goodness to us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you 
have been saved through faith, and that not of your- 
selves; it is God’s gift. It is not of works, so that 
any one can boast of it; for we are his handiwork,’ 
created in Christ Jesus for good deeds, which God 
predestined us to make our daily way of life. 


Christ the Great Reconciler 


Do not forget then, that you Gentiles in the flesh, 
who are called “ uncircumcision”’ by the ‘“ circum- 
cision ”’ made in the flesh by man’s hand, were once 
upon a time without Christ, aliens from the com- 
monwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of 
the Promise, without hope and without God in the 
world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were 
far away have been brought near in the blood of 
Christ. For he is our Peace, who has made the 
two of us [Jew and Gentile] one, and has broken 
down the party-wall of partition between us. In 
his own body he abolished the cause of our enmity, 
the law of commandments contained in ordinances, 
in order to make the two into one new man in him- 


1The word translated “ handiwork’’ is oinua, “ poem.”’ 
The poet is a maker, a creator. 


515 


16 
17 
18 


19 


20 


21 


22 


ao FF wo Ne 


for) 


EPHESIANS 3 


self, so making peace. Thus he reconciled us both 
in one body to God by his cross, on which he slew 
our enmity. So he came preaching “ Peace” to you 
[Gentiles] who were afar off, and “Peace” to 
us [Jews] who were near; because it is through 
him that we both have access in one spirit to the 
Father. 


A Teidpled of God Builded Out of Diverse Elements 


Take notice then that no longer are you strangers 
and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the 
saints and members of God’s household. You are 
built upon the foundation of the apostles and 
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief 
corner-stone. In him the whole building, fitly 
framed together, rises into a holy temple in the 
Lord; and in him you, too, are continuously built 
together for a dwelling-place of God through his 
Spirit. 


III 


PAUL’S GLORIOUS INTERCESSION IN THE 
GOSPEL 


The Glorious Gospel Entrusted to Paul 


For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ 
Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—for surely you 
have heard of the stewardship of the grace of God 
entrusted to me for you? You have heard how by 
direct revelation the secret truth was made known 
to me, as I have already briefly written you. By 
reading what I have written, you can judge of my 
insight into that secret truth of Christ which was 
not disclosed to the sons of men in former genera- 
tions, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit 
to his holy apostles and prophets, namely, that in 
Christ Jesus the Gentiles form one body with us 
[the Jews], and are coheirs and copartners in the 
promise, through the gospel. It is of this gospel 
I became a minister according to the gift of the 


516 


14 
15 
16 


17 


18 


19 


20 
21 


EPHESIANS 3 


grace of God, bestowed on me by the energy of his 
power. ; 


A Commission to the Gentiles 


To me, who am less than the least of all saints, 
has this grace been given, that I should proclaim 
among the Gentiles the gospel of the unsearchable 
riches of Christ; and should make all men see the 
new dispensation of that secret purpose, hidden from 
eternity in the God who founded the universe, in 
order that now his manifold wisdom should, through 
the church, be made known to the principalities and 
powers in the heavenly sphere, according to his 
eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus 
our Lord. In him we have this fearless confidence 
and boldness of access through our faith in him. 
So I beg you not to lose heart over my tribulations 
in your behalf; they are your glory. 


Paul’s Great Intercessory Prayer 


For this cause I bend my knees before the Father, 
from whom every fatherhood in heaven and earth 
is named, praying him to grant you according to 
the riches of his glory to be strengthened with 
might by his Spirit in your inmost being; that 
Christ may make his home in your hearts through 
your faith; that you may be so deeply rooted and 
so firmly grounded in love, that you may be able 
to comprehend with all the saints what is “the 
breadth,” “the length,” “the depth,’ and “the 
height,”? and may know the love of Christ which 
transcends all knowing, so that you may be filled 
with all the “‘ plenitude ” of God. 


Infinitely Able to Do Infinitely More 


Now unto him who, according to his might that 
is at work within us, is able to do infinitely more 
than all we ask or even think, to him be the glory 
in the church and in Christ Jesus, to all generations, 
world without end, Amen. 


iThese terms are borrowed from current philosophical 
thought. 


517 


12 
13 


14 


15 
16 


EPHESIANS 4 


IV 


& 


A NEW CREATION DEMANDS A NEW LIFE 


“Grace Unstinted, Growth Unstunted ” 


I summon you then, I the prisoner in the Lord, 
to live lives worthy of the calling to which you 
were called. With all humility and gentleness and 
long-suffering forbear with one another in love; 
and endeavor to preserve the unity of the Spirit 
in the bonds of peace. There is one body and one 
spirit, even as also you were called in one hope of 
your calling. There is one Lord, one faith, one 
baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over 
all, and through all, and in all. And to each one 
of us was grace given according to the measure of 
the munificence of Christ. Thus it is said, 

When he ascended on high, he led captivity cap- 
tive and gave gifts to men 
Now surely this “he ascended” implies that he 
also descended into the lower part of the earth. He 
who descended is he who ascended above the highest 
heaven, that he might fill the universe. 


Many Functions, But One Purpose 
It is he who made some men apostles, some proph- 


ets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, © 


in order to equip the saints for the work of serving, 
for the building up of the Body of Christ—till we 
all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowl- 
edge of the Son of God, to the maturity of man- 
hood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness 
of Christ. So we shall no longer be children, tossed — 
up and down, and blown about by every wind of 
teaching, tricked by the craft of men in the snares 
of misleading error; but holding the truth in love 
we shall grow up in every part into him who is 
our Head, even Christ. From him the whole body 
(knit together and compacted by all its joints) 


2Ps. 68 : 18. 
518 


17 


18 


19 


20, 


22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 


29 


30 
31 


EPHESIANS 4 


makes continual growth of the body so as to build 
itself up in love, through the energy of his bounteous 
provision, according to the need of each several part. 


Be In the World, But Not of It 


This then I tell you and implore you in the Mas- 
ter’s name, to pass your lives no longer as the 
Gentiles do in the perverseness of their minds; 
having their understanding darkened, alienated 
from the life of God through the ignorance that is 
in them, because of the hardening of their hearts. 
These being past feeling have given themselves over 
to sensuality, in order to practise every form of im- 
purity with greedy zest. 


Changed by Beholding 


21 But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed 
you have listened to him, and in him been taught 
the truth as it isin Jesus. You have learned to lay 
aside, with your former manner of living, the old 
self who was on his way to ruin, as he followed 
the desires which deceive; and to be made new in 
the spirit of your mind, and to put on the new 
self, created after God’s likeness, in the upright- 
ness and holiness of the truth. 


Rules of Holy Living 


So then put away falseness and speak every man 
the truth to his neighbor, for we are members one 
of another. 

‘“ Be angry and sin not”; let not the sun go down 
upon your anger. 

Give the devil no place. 

Let him who stole steal no more, but let him work, 
and in honest industry toil with his hands, so that 
he may have something to give to the needy. 

From your lips let no evil words come forth, but 
such as occasion warrants, such as are good for up- 
building and give a blessing to the hearers. 

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom 
you have been sealed for the day of redemption. 

Banish from among you all bitterness and passion 


519 


32 


1 
2 


9 
(9) 


4 
5 


14 


EPHESIANS 5 


and anger and clamor and slander, as well as al! 
malice; and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, 
forgiving one another, even as God in Christ has 
forgiven you. 


Vv 
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST 


Imitate as Children Do 


Learn then to imitate God as his beloved chil- 
dren, and to lead lives of love, just as Christ also 
loved you and gave himself up for you, an offering 
and sacrifice unto God, for “an odor of sweetness.” 


Impurity Fatal to Goodness 


As for sexual vice and every kind of impurity or 
lust, it is unbecoming for you as Christians even to 
mention them; so too with vulgarity and buffoonery 
and foolish jesting. Such words become you not, but 
rather thanksgiving. For be well assured that no one 
guilty of fornication or impurity or covetousness 
which is idolatry, has any heritage in the kingdom 
of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with 
empty arguments, for it is these vices that bring 
down the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedi- 
ence; therefore do not become sharers with them. 


The Ways of Darkness, and the Ways of Light 
For you were once darkness, but are now light in 
the Lord. Lead the life of children of light, for 
the fruit of the light consists in every kind of good- 
ness and uprightness and truth. Examine carefully 
what is well pleasing to the Lord, and have no 
fellowship with the unfruitful works of the dark- 
ness, but rather expose them. For it is a shame 
even to speak of the things that are done by such 
men in secret; but all these things, when exposed, 
are by the light made manifest, and what is made 
manifest is light. For this reason it is said, 
“ Awake, thou sleeper! 
Arise from the dead; 
And Christ shall shine upon thee! ” 


520 


15 
16 
17 


19 


EPHESIANS 5 


Buy Up Opportunity 

See to it, then, that you carry on your life care- 
fully; not as foolish, but as wise men. Buy up 
opportunity, for the times are evil. For this reason 


do not be thoughtless, but learn to know what the - 


Lord’s will is. 


Contagious Goodness 


Do not be drunk with wine, in which is riotous 
living, but drink deep in the Spirit, when you talk 
together; with psalms and hymns and spiritual 
songs, singing and with all your hearts making 
music unto the Lord; and at all times for all things 
give thanks to God, the Father, in the name of our 
Lord Jesus Christ. 


Duty of Wives 


Submit yourselves one to another out of rever- 
ence for Christ. Wives likewise to their husbands 
as to the Lord, because a husband is the head of 
his wife even as Christ is head of the church, his 
body, which he saves. But as the church submits 
itself to Christ, so also wives to their husbands in 
everything. 


Duty of Husbands 


Husbands, love’ your wives, just as Christ loved 
the church and gave himself for her,’ in order 
that after cleansing her in the bath of baptism, he 
might sanctify her by his word, so as to present her 
to himself, the church glorified, without spot or 
wrinkle or any such blemish; but on the contrary 
holy and faultless. That is how husbands ought to 
love their wives, as they love their own bodies. He 
who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever 
yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes 
it as Christ does the church; for we are members of 
his body. ; 

For this cause shall a man leave his father and 
his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they 
two shall be one flesh.” 


1Gen. 2: 24. 
521 


32 
Sts) 


coon 


EPHESIANS 6 


There is a deep mystery here—l am speaking of 
Christ and his church. But as for you individually, 
you must each one of you love his own wife exactly 
as if she were yourself; and the wife, on her part, 
should reverence her husband. 


VI 
THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD 


Duty of Children 


Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this 
is right. Honor your father and mother (this is 
the first commandment with a promise attached), 
that it may be well with you, and that you may live 
long on the earth.1 


Duty of Parents 


And you fathers, do not irritate your children, 
but bring them up in the nurture and admonition 
of the Lord. 


Duty of Slaves 


Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly 
masters, with reverence and humility, in singleness 
of heart as if to Christ himself; not with eye ser- 
vice, as men-pleasers, but as the slaves of Christ, 
doing the will of God; slaving with good-will from 
your heart, as for the Lord and not for men; be- 
cause you know that whatever good any man does, 
the same shall he receive from the Lord, whether 
he be slave or free man. 


Duty of Masters 


And you masters, show the same spirit to your 
slaves, and stop threatening them; for you know 
that your master and theirs is in heaven, and that 
there is no respect of persons with him. 


4 Wxo7. (203) 12: 
522 


10 
11 


12 


18 
14 
15 


16 


17 
18 


19 


20 


21 


22 


23 
24 


EPHESIANS 6 


Prepared for the Mighty Conflict 

Finally, my brothers, let your hearts be strength- 
ened in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 
Put on all the panoply of God, so that you may be 
able to stand your ground against the stratagems 
of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh 
and blood, but against the despotisms, the empires, 
the rulers of this present darkness, the spirit-hosts 
of evil in the heavenly realm. 


Stand Firm 


Therefore take up the panoply of God, so that 
when the evil day comes you may be able to with- 
stand them, and having overthrown thein all, to 
stand your ground. Stand firm, then, girt about 
with the belt of truth, and wearing the breastplate 
of righteousness, and having your feet shod with 
the stability of the gospel of peace. And take up 
to cover you the shield of faith, with which you 
will be able to quench all the flaming darts of the 
Evil One. Take likewise the helmet of salvation, 
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of 
God. Continue to pray at all times, with all prayer 
and supplication in the Spirit, and watching for it 
with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 
and for me, that utterance may be given me to open 
my mouth boldly, and to make known the mystery 
of the gospel for which I am an ambassador, and 
in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it boldly as I 
ought to speak. 


Paul Sends Tychicus 


But that.you also may know my affairs and how 
I do, Tychicus, my beloved brother and faithful min- 
ister in the Lord, will make everything known to 
you. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, 
that you may know about us, and that he may cheer 
your hearts. 

Peace to the brothers and love, with faith from 
God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May 
grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ 
with sincerity. 


528 




























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- 
@oic 


PAUL’S LETTER 
TO THE 


PHILIPPIANS 


Date: During the same period as Ephesians, Colos- 
sians, and Philemon, from A. D. 61-68. 


Qeeasion: The Philippians, the first church to be or- 
ganized in Europe, had followed Paul’s 
journeying with tender love, and upon 
learning of his imprisonment had sent 
Epaphroditus to Rome to carry their gifts. 
Epaphroditus fell ill in Rome, and Paul 
sent this letter by him, on his recovery, 
to convey his thanks and fatherly counsel 
to this faithful church. 

The letter contains less censure than any 
other of Paul’s letters to his converts. The 
key-word of the epistle is Joy. It is a 
prisoner’s pean of joy and praise. 


a 


1 


2 


Hq CO 


op ON 


9 
10 


11 


PHILIPPIANS 


I 
A GREAT VOICE OUT OF PRISON 


Greeting 


Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all 
the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, and 
to the elders and deacons: Grace and peace to you 
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 


Apostolic Thanksgiving 


Upon every remembrance of you I am ever thank- 
ing my God for you all; in every petition of mine 
in your behalf I am offering my prayer with joy 
for your fellowship in forwarding the gospel, from 
the first day you heard it until now. Of this I am 
fully persuaded, that He who has begun a good 
work in you will go on completing it until the day 
of Jesus Christ. It is but just that I should be 
thus mindful of you all, because I have you in 
my heart, and because in these fetters of mine 
and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel 
you are all my fellow partners in the privilege. 
God is my witness how I yearn for you all in the 
tenderness of Christ Jesus. 


Paul’s Prayer 

And it is my prayer that your love may abound 
yet more and more in intelligence and insight for 
testing things that differ, so that you may be pure 
and blameless until the day of Christ, being filled 
with the fruit of righteousness through Jesus Christ 
to the glory and praise of God. 


527 


12 


13 


14 


15 


"7 


16 


~ 


18 
19 


24 
25 


PHILIPPIANS 1 


Paul’s Fetters Are a Furtherance 


I want you to know, brothers, that what has hap- 
pened to me has turned out rather to the help than 
to the hindrance of the gospel. Throughout the 
whole Pretorian guard and among all the others 
it has become plain that these chains of mine are 
for the sake of Christ; and most of the brothers in 
the Lord, made confident in the Lord through my 
imprisonment, are much emboldened to speak God’s 
message with free and fearless confidence. 


Motives for Preaching the Gospel Differ 


Some indeed are preaching Christ out of envy 
and contentiousness, but others from good-will. 
These latter out of their love, because they know 
that I am set here for the defense of the gospel; but 
the former preach Christ out of rivalry, not sin- 
cerely, because they think they are adding bitter- 
ness to my bonds. 


But Paul Rejoices in Its Preaching 


What of it? In any case, whether in pretence or 
in honest truth, Christ is still preached, and in that 
I am rejoicing, yes, and will rejoice. For I know 
that these things will turn out to my salvation * 
through your prayers and a rich supply of the 
Spirit of Jesus Christ. 


To Live Is Christ 


So it is my keen expectation and hope that I shall 
never feel ashamed, but that with fearless courage, 
now as hitherto, Christ may be magnified in my 
body, whether by my life or by my death. For, with 
me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But now, 
if life in the flesh, if this be the fruit of my toil— 
what to choose I do not know, but am in a quandary 
between the two. I am perplexed. I have a strong 
desire to break camp and to be with Christ, which 
is far better; but for your sakes it is more necessary 
that I should still live on in the body. And because 


SOON Lanse Los 
528 


26 


27 


28 


29 


30 


1 


5 
6 


PHILIPPIANS 2 


I am convinced of this, I know that I shall live, 
and go on working side by side with you all for 
your progress and joy in the faith, so that you may 
find in me fresh cause of exultation in Christ Jesus, 
because of my presence among you once more. 


Live Lives Worthy of the Gospel 


Only do lead lives worthy of the gospel of Christ; 
so that whether I come to see you or hear reports 
concerning you in my absence, I may know that you 
are standing firm in one spirit, with one soul, 
enlisted in a common struggle for the faith of the 
gospel, and in no way terrorized by its enemies. 
For your fearlessness is a clear indication of com- 
ing ruin for them, but of salvation for you at the 
hands of God. For it has been granted you in 
Christ’s behalf, not only to believe on him, but 
also to suffer for his sake, while you wage the 
same conflict which you once saw in me, and now 
hear that I maintain. 


II 


WEAVING THE FAIR PATTERN OF THE 
GOSPEL 


Each for All and All for Each 


If then there is any comfort in Christ, if there is 
any persuasive power in love, if there is any com- 
panionship of the Spirit, if there is any tenderness 
or pity, I entreat you to make my joy overflow by 
living in harmony; possessing the same love, and 
with one soul united in one purpose. Do nothing 
out of strife, nothing out of vanity, but let each 
one in true humility consider the others to be of 
more account than himself. Let each have an eye 
not only for his own interests, but also for the in- 
terests of others. 


The Infinite Humility of Christ 


Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ 
Jesus, who, though from the beginning he had the 


529 


oc 


10 


11 


16 


17 


18 


19 
20 


21 
22 


PHILIPPIANS 2 


nature of God, did not reckon equality with God 
something to be forcibly retained, but emptied him- 
self of his glory by taking the form of a slave, when 
he was born in the likeness of men. More than this, 
after he had shown himself in human form, he 
humbled himself in his obedience even to death; 
yes, and to death on a cross. And for this God 
highly exalted him, and graciously bestowed upon 
him the name which is above every name; that in 
the name of Jesus every knee in heaven, on earth, 
and under the earth should bend, and every tongue 
confess that “‘ Jesus Christ is Lord,” to the glory 
of God the Father. 


Work Out What God Works In 


And so, my beloved, as you have: always obeyed, 
not only in my presence, but now much more in my 
absence, with reverence and self-distrust work out 
your own salvation; for it is God who, in his good- 
will, is ever working in you both will and deed. 


Live Shining Lives 

Do everything without grumbling and disputes, 
that you may become blameless and innocent, the 
sons of God, without rebuke in the midst of a 
crooked and perverse generation, among whom you 
shine like stars in a dark world, holding out a mes- 
sage of life. Thus it will be my boast at the day 
of Christ that I have not run in vain, or toiled for 
nothing. Nay, even if my life is to be poured out 
as a libation upon the sacrifice and service of your 
faith, I rejoice and congratulate you all; and in the 
same way you must rejoice and congratulate me. 


Timothy to Be Sent to Them 


Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy 
to you before long, so that I may be of good comfort 
when I learn the news concerning you. For I have 
no other like him with a genuine concern for your 
welfare, for they are all seeking their own interests, 
not those of Jesus Christ. And you know Timothy’s 
worth, how he has shared my servitude in further- 


rm 


5380 


23 
2 f 


ry 
27 


‘PLP. 
Ge 


29 


0 


1 


2 


PHILIPPIANS 3 


ance of the gospel, like a son helping his father. 
So I hope to send him, as soon as ever I see how it 
\vill go with me; but I trust in the Lord that I also 
shall come shortly. 


“ ;-paphroditus to Be Gladly Received 


CPE ¢ 
at 


Epaphroditus, my brother and coworker and fel- 
low soldier, who is your messenger and minister to 
my needs, I have thought it necessary to send to 


5 you; for he has been homesick for you all, and dis- 


tressed at your having heard of his illness. And 
indeed he was sick nigh unto death; but God had 
mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also 
so that I should not have sorrow upon sorrow. 
Therefore I have been the more eager to send him, 
in order that you may rejoice in seeing him again, 
and that I may have one sorrow the less. Receive 
him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold in 
honor men like him; for it was through the work 
of the Lord that he came near to death; for he 
hazarded his very life to supply what was lacking 
in the help you sent me. 


III 
REAL RELIGION AND FALSE FORMALISM 


Warning Against Formalism 


Finally, my brothers, continue to rejoice in the 
Lord. To write the same thing is not indeed weari- 
some to me, and it is safe for you. Beware of “ these 
dogs,” these mischievous workers, beware of the 


8 econcision! For we are the true circumcision, who 


4 
5 


6 


worship God in the spirit, and make our boast in 
Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in outward 
rites, although I myself might have confidence in 
outward rites. If any one else claims a right to 
trust in them, far more may I; circumcised the 
eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of 
Benjamin, a Hebrew sprung from the Hebrews; as 
to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of 


531 


PHILIPPIANS 3 


the church; as to the righteousness which comes 
through law, blameless. 


“My Richest Gain I Count but Loss ” 


7 But what was once gain to me, that I have counted 
8 loss for Christ. In very truth I count all things 
but loss compared to the excellence of the knowledge 

of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suf- 
fered the loss of all things, and esteem them but 

9 refuse that I may gain Christ, and be found in him; 
not having my own righteousness of the Law, but 
that alone which is through the faith of Christ, the 
righteousness which comes from God, founded upon 

10 faith. I long to know him in the power of his resur- 
rection and the fellowship of his sufferings, by 

11 sharing the likeness of his death; if by any means 
I might attain to the resurrection from the dead! 


Pressing Toward the Mark 


12 I do not say that I have already won, or am 
already perfect, but I am pressing on to lay hold on 
the prize for which also Christ has laid hold of me. 

13 Brothers, I do not regard myself to have yet laid 
hold of it; but this one thing I do, forgetting what 
is behind me, but straining every nerve toward 

14 that which lies ahead, I am ever pressing on to- 
ward the goal, for the prize of God’s heavenward 
call in Christ Jesus. 


Warning Against Self-Indulgent Following 


15 Let us all then, who are mature Christians, strive 
for this! God will make this clear to any of you 
16 who are striving for other goals; if only we guide 
our steps by the standards we have already attained. 


Warning Against False Brethren 


17 Brothers, be comrades in imitating me, and study 
those whose life and walk is according to the pat- 
18 tern I have set you. For there are many—as I used 
often to tell you, and am now telling you even with 
tears—who live and walk as the enemies of the 
19 cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their belly 


582 


20 
21 


PHILIPPIANS 4 


is their god, their glory is in their shame, and their 
minds are set on earthly things. 


Our Heavenly Citizenship 


But our commonwealth is in heaven; and it is 
from heaven also that we are anxiously awaiting a 
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change 
the fashion of the body of our abasement into the 
likeness of his glorious body by the energy with 
which he is able even to subject all things to himself. 


IV:1 Stand fast then, brothers, dearly loved and 


2 
3 


> Ole 


longed for, my joy and my crown, so stand fast 
in the Lord, beloved! 


IV 


PAUL’S RECIPE FOR A LIFE OF VICTORY 


Euodia and Syntyche 

Kuodia I entreat, and I entreat Syntyche, to be 
of the same mind in the Lord; yes, and I beg you 
also, my true yokefellow, to help them; for these 
women shared my toil in the furtherance of the 
gospel, together with Clement, and the rest of my 
fellow workers whose names are in the book of life. 


“Be Cheerful, Unselfish, Calm, Prayerful ” 


Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again will I say, 
rejoice! Let your reasonableness be recognized by 
every one. The Lord is near you.* Do not worry 
about anything; but in everything by prayer and 
supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests 
be made known to God; and the peace of God, which 
passes all understanding, will stand guard over your 
hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. 


Thoughts Weave the Web of Deeds 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is 
worthy of reverence, whatever is just, whatever is 
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, 
if virtue is anything, if honor is anything, be al- 


9 ways thinking about these. Put in practise also 


1 See Rom. 10:8; Eph. 2:18, 17. 
533 


10 


d1 


12 


13 


14 
15 


16 
We 


18 


as 


20 


21 
22 


23 


-PHILIPPIANS 4 


what you have learned and received and heard and 
seen in me; and the God of peace shall be with you. 


Master of-Circumstances 

Moreover, I greatly rejoiced in the Lord that now 
once more your care for me blossomed afresh; 
though indeed you did take thought in this matter, 
but you lacked the opportunity of expression. Not 
that I speak as if I were in want, for I at least have 
learned how to be content, whatever happens. I 
know how to live humbly, and I also know how to 
bear prosperity. In every place and under all 
circumstances I have been initiated into the secret 
of fulness and of hunger, of prosperity and of want. 
I am strong for everything in Him who gives me 
strength. 


Grateful Acknowledgments 


Notwithstanding, you have acted nobly in making 
yourselves comrades in my trouble. And you very 
well know, Philippians, that in the beginning of the 
gospel, when I had left Macedonia, no church but 
yourselves had fellowship with me in the matter of 
giving and receiving. For even while I was still 
in Thessalonica, you sent once and again for my 
needs. It is not your gifts I am eager for, but I am 
eager for the abundant profit that accrues to your 
divine account. But I give you a receipt in full for 
all things and abound. I am amply supplied with 
what you sent by Epaphroditus—an odor of sweet 
fragrance, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to 
God. All your own needs my God will fully supply, 
according to his riches in glory, in Christ Jesus. 
Now unto our God and Father be the glory, for- 
ever and ever. Amen. 


Closing Salutation 


, salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers 
who are with me salute you. All the saints salute 
you, and especially the slaves of the Emperor’s 
household. 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your 
spirits. 


584 : 


ee 


PAUL’S LETTER 
TO THE 


COLOSSIANS 


Date: 


Characteristics: 


Written probably at about the same 
time as the letter to the Ephe- 
sians, A. D.1.62, to#whichwaenas 
many parallels in expression and 
counsel. 


Colossians is more rugged and com- 
pressed in style than Ephesians, 
and is written with the passion of 
one who combats a dangerous 
heresy. Epaphras has. brought 
news to Paul in prison of a heresy 
which was being taught to the 
Christians in Colosse; laying stress 
upon the inaccessibility of God, 
upon asceticism, and upon the wor- 
ship of angelic orders of beings in- 
termediate between man and God. 
It was indeed incipient Gnosticism. 

Paul sets forth in unmistakable clear- 
ness the unique claims of Jesus as 
the one supreme revealer of the 
Father, the one mediator between 
man and God, the fulness of Him 
who fills all in all. 

The key-word of Colossians is “ all,” 
showing that in Christ all things 
subsist, and all things are ours. 
The word is used fifteen times. 

The first two chapters are doctrinal; 
the last two, practical (virtually a 
replica of the counsel given in 
Ephesians). 

The letter was sent from Rome by 
Tychicus of Ephesus, and Onesimus 
of Colosse. 


COLOSSIANS 


I 


CHRIST THE FULNESS OF GOD AND 
HEAD OF THE CHURCH 


Salutation 


1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of 

2 God, and Timothy our brother, to the holy and 
believing brothers in Christ who are in Colosse: 
Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father. 


Thanksgiving 
3 Whenever I pray for you I am continually thank- 
4 ing God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (since 
I heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love 
5 to all the saints) because of the hope laid up for 
you in heaven. Long ago you heard of this hope 
6 in the message which came to you of the truth of the 
gospel. And just as it is spreading through the 
whole world, bearing fruit and increasing, so also 
is it among you, from the day in which you heard 
7 it, and came truly to know the grace of God, as you 
learned it from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow 
slave. He is a faithful minister of Jesus Christ 
8 in your behalf, and it is he who has told me of 
your love for me in the spirit. 


Intercession 
9 For this reason from the day I heard of it I 
have never ceased to pray for you, asking God to 
fill you with the knowledge of his will with every 
10 kind of wisdom and spiritual insight; that you may 


537 


11 


12 


17 


18 


49 
20 


21 
22 


23 


COLOSSIANS 1 


walk worthy of the Lord in every kind of pleasing; 
that you may be fruitful in every kind of good 
work, and may increase in the knowledge of God; 
that you may be strengthened in every kind of 
strength by the might of his glory for every kind 
of patience and fortitude with good cheer. I ask 
that you may give thanks to the Father who has 
made us fit to receive our share of the heritage of 
the saints in the light. 


Christ In and Over All 


For he has delivered us out of the dominion of 
the darkness, and transplanted us into the kingdom 
of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption, the 
forgiveness of our sins. He is a visible image of 
the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: for 
in him was the universe created, things in heaven 
and on earth, the seen and the unseen, thrones, or 
dominions, or principalities, or powers; by him and 
for him all have been created; and HE 1S before a1); 
and in him all things subsist. 


Christ the Head of the Church 


He is the head of his Body, the Church. He is 
the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, in order 
that in all things he may become preeminent. 


Christ Is the Fulness of God 


For in him all the divine fulness chose to dwell; 
and by him it chose to reconcile all things alike on 
earth or in heaven to himself; making peace by 
him, through the blood of his cross. 


The Colossians Saved by Christ 


And you, alienated as you once were, hostile at 
heart in your evil deeds, he has now in his human 
body reconciled to God by his death, in order that 
he may bring you into his presence, holy and un- 
blemished and irreproachable. And this he will do 
if, indeed, you continue in the faith, firmly founded 
and stedfast, and never moved away from the hope 
of the gospel which you heard, and which has been 


538 


24 


28 


[s) 


OT 


COLOSSIANS 2 


proclaimed to every creature under heaven, that 
gospel of which I, Paul, was made a minister. 


Paul’s Transcendent Message 

I am now rejoicing in my sufferings on your be- 
half; and I am filling up in my own body what is 
yet lacking of the sufferings of Christ in behalf of 


5 the church, his Body. It is of this I was made a 


minister, according to the stewardship entrusted to 
me by God for you, fully to declare God’s message; 
that secret truth, which, although hidden from ages 
and generations of old, has now been made mani- 
fest to his saints. To them God willed to make 
known among the Gentiles how glorious are the 
riches of that secret truth, which is “ Christ in you, 
the hope of glory.’ Him I am ever proclaiming, 
warning every one and teaching every one, in all 
wisdom; that I may bring every man into his pres- 
ence, full grown in Christ. For that end I am ever 
toiling, wrestling with all that energy of his which 
is mightily at work within me. 


Il 


COMPLETE IN THE BELOVED 


Christ, God’s Secret Truth, Now Revealed 


For I would have you know how great a contest 
I am waging for you and the brethren in Laodicea, 
and for all who have never seen my face. May their 
hearts be comforted! May they be knit together in 
love! May they gain in all its riches the full assur- 
ance of their understanding! May they come to a 
perfect knowledge of the secret truth of God, which 
is Christ himself. In Him are hidden all the trea- 
sures of wisdom and knowledge! 


Loving Anxiety and Eagerness for Their Progress 


And this I say, lest any one should mislead you 
with enticing words. For though I am absent from 
you in body, I am with you in spirit, happy to note 


539 


1S 


11 


12 


13 


14 


15 


16 


ibe 
18 


COLOSSIANS 2 


your discipline and the solid front of your faith in 
Christ. As then you have received Jesus Christ, 
your Lord, in him live your lives; since you are 
rooted in him, and in him continually built up. Be 
firmly established in the faith as you were taught 
it, and continually abound in it with thanksgiving. 


In Christ All Fulness Dwells 


Take care lest any man drag you away captive 
by his philosophy which is a vain deceit, following 
the traditions of men and the world’s crude notions, 
and not Christ. For it is in Christ that all the 
fulness of deity dwells bodily, and in him you have 
your fulness, and he is the Lord of all the principal- 
ities and powers. In him also you were circumcised 
with a circumcision not made with hands; even in 
putting off your sensual nature in Christ’s own cir- 
cumcision, when you were buried with him in bap- 
tism. In baptism also you were raised with him, 
through your faith in the energy of that God who 
raised him from the dead. 


In Christ All Power Resides 


And you also, at one time dead in your trespasses 
and in the uncircumcision of your sensual nature, 
he has made alive together with himself. For he 
forgave us all our transgressions, blotted out the 
handwriting of ordinances that stood against us 
and was hostile to us, and took it out of our way, 
nailing it to his cross. Principalities and powers 
he disarmed, and openly displayed them as _ his 
trophies, when he triumphed over them in the cross. 


No Room for Jewish Formalism 


Therefore do not permit any one to sit in judg- 
ment on you ir regard to what you may eat or 
drink, or in regard to feast-days or new moons or 
sabbaths. These were a shadow of things to come, 
but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no man 
at his will defraud you of your prize through his 
false humility and worship of the angels, taking 
his stand on the visions he has seen, and vainly 


540 


COLOSSIANS 3 


19 puffed up by his material mind; instead of keeping 
connection with the Head from whom the whole 
body draws nourishment for all its needs by the 
joints which bind it; and is knit together, and grows 
with a divine growth. 


Asceticism Vain to Combat Sin 
20 If you died with Christ to the world’s rudimen- 
tary notions, why, as if you still lived in the world, 
do you submit yourselves to dogmatisms founded on 
21 teachings and doctrines of men—such as “ Do not 
handle this,’’ ““ You must not taste that,” “ Do not 
22 touch this ”—all things which are intended to perish 
23 in the using? For these precepts, although they 
have a show of wisdom with their self-imposed de- 
votions and fastings and bodily austerities, are of 
no real value against the indulgence of the carnal 
appetites. 


III 
THE VICTORIOUS LIFE IN CHRIST 


Christ Liberates 


1 If you then are risen with Christ, seek those 
things which are above, where Christ abides, seated 

2 on the right hand of God. Set your heart on 

3 things above, not on earthly things; for you have 
died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

4 When Christ, who is our life, appears, then will 
you also appear with him in glory. 


' Slay the Lower Nature 

5 So slay your baser inclinations: fornication, im- 
purity, appetite, unnatural desires, and the greed 

6 which is idolatry. These things are ever bringing 
down the wrath of God upon the children of dis- 

7 obedience, among whom you once led your daily 
life when you lived in them. 


Put On the New Nature 
8 But now you also must renounce them all. Anger, 
passion, and ill-will must be put away; slander, too, 


541 


etal 


12 


13 


14 
15 


16 


17 


18 
1g 
20 
yal 
22 
23 


24 


COLOSSIANS 3 


and foul talk, so that they may never soil your 
lips. Lie not one to another, but strip off the old 
self with its doings, and put on that new self which 
is continually made over according to the like- 
ness of its Creator, into full understanding. In it 
[that new creation] there is no “ Greek and Jew,” 
“circumcised and uncircumcised,” ‘“ barbarian,” 
“ Scythian,” “ slave,” “free man,’ but Christ is all, 
and in us all. 


The Garments of the Spirit 


Therefore, as God’s chosen people, consecrated and 
beloved, clothe yourselves with tenderness of heart, 
kindness, humility, gentleness, good temper; bear- 
ing with one another and forgiving each other, if 
any one has a grievance against another. Just as 
Christ the Lord forgave you, so must you forgive. 
Over them all bind on love, which is the girdle of 
completeness. Let the peace of Christ, to which 
also you were called in one body, rule in your 
hearts, and show yourselves thankful. Let the word 
of Christ have its home in you richly, in all wisdom. 
Teach and admonish one another in psalms and 
hymns and spiritual songs, ever singing with grace 
in your hearts unto God. And whatever you do, 
whether in word or in deed, do all in the name of 
the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God our Father 
through him. 


Duties Toward One Another 


Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is 
fitting for Christians. Husbands, be loving to your 
wives, and be not cross or surly with them. Chil- 
dren, obey your parents in everything, for this is 
well pleasing in Christians. Fathers, do not harass 
your children, lest you make them spiritless. Slaves, 
obey in all things your earthly masters, not with 
eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of 
purpose, out of reverence for your Lord. And 
whatever you do, do it heartily as for the Lord, and 
not for men. You know that from the Lord you 
will receive reward of the inheritance, for you 


542 


25 


COLOSSIANS 4 


are the Lord Christ’s slaves. For he who wrongs 
another will be paid back for his wrong-doing, and 
there will be no favoritism. 


IV:1 Masters, deal justly and fairly with your slaves, 


co DS 


HD Of 


10 


11 


12 


knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. 


IV 


GREETINGS AND ADMONITIONS 


Keep Awake in Prayer 


Be unwearied in prayer, and keep awake in it 
when giving thanks. Keep on praying for me, too, 
that God may open for me a door of utterance to 
speak the secret truth of Christ, for which I am a 
prisoner. Pray that I may unfold it as I ought to 
speak. Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward 
those without, buying up your opportunities. Let 
your speech be always gracious, with a savor of 
salt, and learn how to give every man a fitting 
answer. 


Tychicus and Onesimus 


Tychicus, my beloved brother and faithful minis- 
ter and fellow slave in the Lord, will make known to 
you all that concerns me. I have sent him with 
Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, one of 
your own number, for this very purpose, to let you 
know how I am, and to cheer your hearts. They 
will inform you of all that goes on here. 


Greetings and Messages 


Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, salutes you, and 
Marcus, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you 
received instructions; if he comes to you, make him 
welcome), and Jesus surnamed Justus. These are 
my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, 
belonging to the circumcision, who have been any 
comfort to me. 

Epaphras, one of yourselves, salutes you, a slave 
of Christ who is always agonizing for you in his 


543 


13 
14 
15 
16 


17 


18 


COLOSSIANS 4 


prayers, that you may stand firm, mature, and fully 
assured in all the will of God. For I can testify 
to his deep interest in you and in those in Laodicea 
and Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, salutes 
you, and so does Demas. 

Salute the brothers in Laodicea; Nympha also, 
and the church which meets at her house. And 
when this letter has been read to you, see that it is 
read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that 
you also read the letter from Laodicea. And tell 
Archippas to take heed to the ministry which he 
has received in the Lord, that he may fulfill it. 

I, Paul, add this farewell in my own handwriting. 
Do not forget these chains of mine. Grace be with 
you. 


544 





PAUL’S FIRST LETTER 
TO THE 


THESSALONIANS 


a 


Date and Authorship: Written by Paul about A. D. 52. 
Probably the earliest book of 
the New Testament to be 
written. 


Occasion: Paul had been forced to leave 
Thessalonica because of the 
fierce enmity of the non-be- 
lieving Jews. The following® 
year while he was in Corinth 
Timothy and Silas, who had 
been left behind in Thessa- 
lonica, brought him news of 
the church. He was told of 
the fierce persecutions, 
against which the church 
was bearing up bravely, of 
the growing disorganization 
of the church, and of the ex- 
citement as they contemplated 
the imminent return of the 
Lord, of the consequent neg- 
lect of the ordinary duties of 
life, and of their question re- 
garding the resurrection. The 
letter was written to answer 
these questions and to estab- 
lish and confirm the young 
church in the faith. 


i al ll el, 


———— oe ee 


— ee a 





1 


ico) 


I. THESSALONIANS 


I 
GREETING AND ENCOURAGEMENT 


Greeting 


Paul and Silas and Timothy: 

To the Church of the Thessalonians which is in 
God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ: Grace 
be to you, and peace. 


Thanksgiving 

I am continually thanking God for you all, always 
making mention of you in my prayers, as I call to 
mind your work of faith, and labor of love, and 
patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the 
presence of our God and Father. For I know, O 
brothers, beloved of God, that he has chosen you; 
for my gospel did not come to you in word only, 
but in power also, and in the Holy Spirit, and with 
deep conviction. For you know also the manner in 
which I behaved myself among you for your sakes. 
Moreover, you began to follow the pattern I set you, 
and the Lord’s also, receiving the word with joy 
in the Holy Spirit, although amid severe persecu- 
tion. Thus you became a pattern to ail the believers 
in Macedonia and Achaia. 


“ Our Echoes Roll from Soul to Soul ” 


For the word of the Lord has been sounded forth 
from you, and its sound has been heard not only 
in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place 
where the tidings of your faith toward God have 
been spread abroad, so that I have no need to speak 
of it. For others, of their own accord, tell about 
the welcome I had from you, and how you turned 


547 


10 


1 
2 


5) 
6 
ii 


10 


11 


I. THESSALONIANS 2 


to God from your idols, to be slaves of a true and 
living God, and to await for the coming of his Son 
from the heavens, the Son whom he raised from the 
dead, even Jesus, our Deliverer from the wrath to 
come. 


II 


PAUL’S LIFE AND TESTIMONY 


A Workman Unashamed 

For you yourselves know, brothers, that my visit 
to you did not fail of its purpose; for you remember 
that although I had already borne ill-treatment and 
insult at Philippi, I took courage in my God to tell 
you the gospel of God, in the face of much opposi- 
tion. For my preaching was not grounded on a 
delusion, or on impure motives, or in deceit. But 
as my fitness to be entrusted with the gospel has 
been tested and approved by God, I so speak, not 
to please men, but to please God, who is testing 
my motives. 


Paul’s Tender Love 

For as you well know, I never resorted to flattery, 
nor to any pretext for enriching myself. God is my 
witness! Nor was I seeking glory from men, either 
yourselves or others, although I might have exer- 
cised authority as Christ’s apostle. On the con- 
trary I showed myself among you as gentle as a 
mother, when she tenderly nurses her own children. 
So in my fond affection it was my joy to give you, 
not only the gospel of God, but my very life also, 
because you had become dear to me. - 


Paul’s Sturdy Independence 

You recall, brothers, my labor and toil; how, 
while working at my trade day and night, so as 
not to become a burden to any of you, I proclaimed 
to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses—and 
so is God—how pure and just and blameless was my 
behavior among you believers. You know how I 
was wont to treat each of you as a father treats his 


548 


I. THESSALONIANS 3 


children, exhorting and imploring and adjuring each 
12 one among you to lead a life worthy of the God 
who called you into his own kingdom and glory. 


The Sufferings of the Thessalonians 


13 For this reason also I am giving continual thanks 
to God, because when you heard from me the spoken 
word of God, you received it not as the word of 
men, but as the word of God (which in truth it is), 
who himself is effectually at work in you who be- ° 

14 lieve. For you, brothers, began to follow the ex- 
ample of the churches of God in Judea, which are 
in Christ Jesus; and you in your turn suffered at 
the hands of your fellow citizens persecutions like 

15 to those which they endured from the Jews—the 
men who killed both the’ Lord Jesus and the prophets, 
and drove us out—they are displeasing to God, and 

16 are the enemies of all mankind. They forbid me to 
speak to the Gentiles with a view to their salvation. 
They continue always to fill up the measure of their 
sins; but the wrath of God is come upon them to 
the full! 


Paul’s Hindrances 


17 But I, my brothers, although torn from you for 
a short season (in presence, not in heart), made 
eager efforts to behold you face to face, with strong 

18 longing; for that reason I would fain have visited 
you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered 

19 me. For what is my hope, or joy? What is the 
victor’s wreath in which I exult? What but your 
own selves in the presence of our Lord Jesus, at his 
coming! For you are my pride and my delight. 


Iil 
TIMOTHY’S MISSION 


Paul’s Substitute 


1. And so, when I could no longer bear it, I made up 
2 my mind to be left behind at Athens, all alone. I 


549 


I. THESSALONIANS 4 


sent Timothy, my brother and God’s fellow worker 
in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and to 
© hearten you in your faith, so that no one should 
be shaken by these troubles—for you know well 
4 that we are appointed to troubles. For even when 
I was with you I used to tell you beforehand that 
I was to suffer affliction; and so it proved, as you 
5 know. So, when I could no longer endure it, I sent 
to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter 
had tempted you and that my labor had been in 
6 vain. But now that Timothy has returned from 
you to me, and has brought good news of your 
faith and love, and that you are still holding me 
in affectionate remembrance, always longing to see 
7 me as I also am longing to see you, I have been 
comforted, my brothers, in regard to you, in spite 
8 of all my distress and affliction over your faith. For 
now I am really living, if you are standing firm in 
the Lord. 


Paul’s Prayer 


9 For what thanksgiving can I render again to 

God in your behalf, in return for all the joy which 

10 you cause me in the presence of my God? Night 

and day I am praying earnestly that I may see you 

face to face, and may perfect whatever is yet lack- 

11 ing in your faith. Now may our God and Father 

himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct my path 

12 to you. Meanwhile, may the Lord cause you to 

increase and abound in love toward one another and 

18 toward all men, even as I do toward you. And so 

may he establish your hearts unblamable in holi- 

ness before our God and Father, at the coming of 
our Lord Jesus, with all his saints. 


IV 


WARNING AND EXHORTATION 


Warning Against Sensuality 
1 Finally then, my brothers, I continue to beseech 
and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you 


550 


o> 1 fe WwW bo 


9 


16 


I. THESSALONIANS 4 


learned of me how to walk so as to please God— 
and you are actually doing so—that you abound in 
it yet more and more. For you know what charges 
I laid upon you through the Lord Jesus. For this 
is God’s will, even your sanctification; that you 
should abstain from sexual vice; that each one 
should learn how to take a wife in purity and honor, 
not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles who 
know not God; that no man overreach or take 
advantage of his brother in such matters, because 
“the Lord takes vengeance ”’ in all these things, as 
also I repeatedly forewarned you and testified to 
you. For God has not called us for uncleanness, 
but in holiness, so that he who rejects this is not 
rejecting man, but the God who gave you his Holy 
Spirit. 


Exhortation to Love 


It is not needed that I should write to you about 
brotherly love; for you yourselves have been taught 
by God to love one another; as indeed you do love 
all the brothers in Macedonia. But I exhort you, 
brothers, to abound in this yet more; also that you 
endeavor to live quietly and to mind your own 
business, and to work with your hands (as I charged 
you) ; so that your conduct may be seemly toward — 
those that are without, and that you may not need 
help from any man. 


The Second Coming of Christ 


But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, about 
those who are falling asleep. You must not sorrow 
like other men, who have no hope. For if we really 
believe that Jesus died and rose again, so even so 
will God through Jesus bring with him those also 
who have fallen asleep. For this I tell you by the 
word of the Lord, that we who are living, who sur- 
vive unto the coming of the Lord, will in no wise 
precede those who have fallen asleep. For the 
Lord himself with a shout, with the voice of an 
archangel, and with the trumpet of God will descend 
from heaven. Then the dead in Christ will rise 


551 


ati 


18 


oe 


for) 


11 


12 
13 
14 


I. THESSALONIANS 5 


first; and afterwards we who are alive, who remain, 
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, 
to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever 
be with~the Lord. So comfort one another with 
these words. 


Vv 
LIVE AS CHILDREN OF THE DAY 


The Suddenness of Christ’s Coming 


Now as to the times and the seasons, brothers, 
you have no need that anything be written to you. 
You yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the 
Lord will come as a thief in the night. While men 
are saying “ Peace and safety,” then, like birth- 
pangs upon a woman with child, destruction will 
come upon them suddenly. In no wise will they 
escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that 
“the Day ” should come upon you like'a bandit. For 
you are all sons of light, and sons of day. We are 
not of night nor of darkness. So then let us not 
be sleeping as do the rest, but let us be watchful 
and self-controlled. For those who are sleeping, 
sleep in the night, and those who are drunken, are 
drunken in the night; but let us who are of the day 
be self-controlled, putting on the breastplate of 
faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salva- 
tion. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to 
win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He 
died for us, in order that whether we are keeping 
vigil [in life] or sleeping [in death] we may ever 
be living together with him. So comfort one an- 
other, and try to build one another up, as indeed 
you are doing. 


Final Counsels 


I entreat you, brothers, to acknowledge those who 
are toiling among you and are your leaders in the 
Lord, and give you counsel. Esteem them very 
highly in love for their work’s sake. Live in peace 
among yourselves and, brothers, we urge you to 


D52 


I. THESSALONIANS 5 


admonish the disorderly, comfort the faint-hearted, 
15 sustain the weak, lose patience with none. Take 
care that none of you ever return evil for evil, but 
always pursue what is kind to one another and to 
16,17 all. Always be joyful; pray without ceasing; 
18 give thanks in every circumstance, for this is the 
19 will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Quench not the 
20,21 Spirit. Do not despise prophesyings, but try all, 
22 holding fast to the good. Hold aloof from every 
form of evil. 


Prayer and Salutation 


23 May the God of peace consecrate you wholly; and 
may your spirit and soul and body be kept alto- 
gether faultless until the coming of our Lord Jesus 

24 Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will fulfil 
my prayer. 

25 Brothers, pray for me. 

26 Greet all the brothers aah a holy kiss. 

27 I adjure you, in the name of the Lord, to have 
this letter read to all the brothers. 


Benediction 
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 










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oP a as rok a eos re 


PAUL’S SECOND LETTER 
TO THE 7 


THESSALONIANS 


Date: The letter was probably written during 
the second missionary journey, from 
Corinth, about A. D. 58. 


Occasion: Paul’s writing in his first letter in re- 
gard to the second coming of Christ 
was understood by the Thessalonians 
to presage an immediate appearance. 
Grave disorders ensued: ordinary busi- 
ness was neglected, and unregulated 
religious enthusiasm indulged in. The 
second letter was written to supple- 
ment and correct the impression caused 
by the first letter, and to urge the 
Thessalonians to regular industry and 
patient waiting. 


Authenticity: The authenticity of the letter is un- 
questioned. 


1 


2 


Il. THESSALONIANS 


I 


PAUL BEGINS IN THANKSGIVING AND 
INTERCESSION 


Greeting 


Paul and Silvanus and Timothy: 

To the Church of the Thessalonians in God our 
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you, 
janis peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus 

rist. 


Thanksgiving 

I ought always to thank God for you, brothers, 
as is fitting because of the abundant growth of 
your faith and of the overflowing love with which 
every one of you is filled toward one another. So 
that I myself am boasting about you among the 
churches of God, boasting of the stedfastness and 
faith which you are displaying in all the troubles 
and afflictions which you are enduring. They are 
an evidence of the righteous judgment of God, who 
will count you worthy of his kingdom, in behalf 
of which you are even now suffering. 


God Will Repay 


For truly God’s justice must render back trouble 
to those who are troubling you, and give to you, 
who now are troubled, rest, along with me at the 
unveiling [“ apocalypse ”] of the Lord Jesus from 
heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire. 
Then shall he take vengeance on those who know not 
God, even on those who do not obey the gospel of 


557 


Il. THESSALONIANS 2 


9 our Lord Jesus. They shal} suffer punishment, even 
an eternal destruction from the presence of the 
Lord, and from the brightness of his glorious 

10 majesty, when he comes to be glorified in his saints, 
and to be wondered at in all believers, on that 
Day; (for you also believed our testimony). 


Intercession 


11 To this end I am making my constant prayer for 
you, beseeching God to make you worthy of your 
calling, and to fulfil mightily every desire of good- 

12 ness and effort of faith; so that the name of our 
Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you be 
glorified in him, according to the grace of our God 
and of our Lord Jesus Christ. 


II 


HIS COMING MAY BE IN THE THIRD 
WATCH 


Warning Against Expectation of Immediate Coming 


1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus 
Christ and our gathering together to meet him, I 
2 entreat you, brothers, not to be ‘‘ quickly shaken out 
of your wits” * and not to be agitated either by 
a spirit or by a message, or by an epistle purporting 
to be from me, saying, 
“The Day of the Lord is at hand.” 


The Man of Sin to Come First 


3 Let no one deceive you by any means. For it 
will not come until after the Great Apostasy, and 
the revealing of the Man of Sin, the son of per- 

4 dition, the adversary, who opposes and exalts him- 
self against all that is called God, or is an object 
of worship; so that he takes his seat in the Temple 

5 of God, and vaunts himself as God. Do you not 
recall that I often told you this, when I was with 


1Translation of Dr. G. G. Findlay. 


558 


6 
7 
8 


13 


14 
15 


16 


17 


1 


2 


Il. THESSALONIANS 3 


you? And now you know what is holding him back, 
to the end that he may be revealed in his appointed 
time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at 
work; only there is one who is hindering and will 
continue to hinder till he be removed; and then 
the lawless one will be revealed. Him the Lord 
will consume with the breath of his lips, and destroy 
with the brightness of his appearing; even he whose 
coming is according to the energy of Satan, in every 
power and sign and lying wonder, and with all 
deceit of unrighteousness for those who are perish- 
ing, because they did not receive the love of the 
truth for their salvation. For this reason God is 
sending on them an energy of delusion, that they 
should put faith in a falsehood; so that they all 
should be condemned, who are faithless to the truth, 
but take pleasure in evil. 


So Stand Fast, Brothers 


But for you, brothers, whom the Lord loves, I 
ought to give thanks to God continually, because 
God has chosen you from the beginning for salva- 
tion in consecration of the Spirit and belief of the 
truth. For this he called you through my gospel, 
so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord 
Jesus Christ. So, brothers, stand fast, and hold fast 
the teachings which you have been taught by me, 
whether by word of mouth or by letter. And may 
our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, 
who has loved us and given us eternal encourage- 
ment and a good hope in grace, comfort your hearts, 
and stablish you in every good work and word. 


III 


PAUL’S OWN EXAMPLE OF INDUSTRY 


Pray for Me 


Finally, brothers, pray on for me, that God’s 
word may run swiftly, and be glorified as in your 
own case, and that I may be delivered from un- 


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Il. THESSALONIANS 38 


reasonable and wicked men; for all do not hold the 
faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will stablish you 
and guard you from the Evil One. Now we have 
fully fixed our faith on you in the Lord, that you are 
doing and will continue to do what we enjoin. May 
the Lord incline your hearts to the love of God 
and to the stedfastness of Christ. 

I summon you, brothers, in the name of the Lord 
Jesus Christ, to shun any brother who leads an idle 
and disorderly life, which is not according to the rule 
you received from me. For you know well how you 
must imitate me. 


Paul’s Own Example of Industry 


For I did not lead an idle or disorderly life among 
you; I did not eat my food as a gift from any man, 
but in toil and travail, night and day, I worked, sc . 
that I might not be a burden to any of you. Not 
that I have no right to such support; it was simply 
to give you an example for you to imitate. For in- 
deed when I was with you, I used to charge you, 

“If any man will not work, he shall not eat.” * 
But I hear that there are those of your number 
who are leading idle and disorderly lives, who are 
not busy, but mere busybodies. Now all such I 
command and entreat, by the authority of the Lord 
Jesus Christ, to work in quietness, and to earn their 
own living. But you, brothers, must not grow weary 
in well-doing. If any man does not give heed to 
what I have said in this letter, mark that man; do not 
associate with him, so as to make him feel ashamed; 
and yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish 
him as a brother. And may the Lord of peace him- 
self give you peace at all times and in every way. 
The Lord be with you all. 


Autograph Signature 


I, Paul, add this greeting in my own handwriting, 
which is my token in every letter. Thus I write— 
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. 


1 Gen, Bond 9; 
560 


PAUL’S LETTERS 
TO 


TIMOTHY 


Date and Object: The date and place of writing are 
uncertain. The first letter was 
written from Macedonia probably 
to Timothy in Ephesus, the church 
of which tradition says he was 
pastor. The object of the letters 
is to guide and encourage the 
young pastor in the discharge of 
his difficult duties, to combat cer- 
tain false doctrines, and to define 
the duties of church officers. 

The second letter is evidently writ- 
ten from Rome, under the shadow 
of a rigorous imprisonment, and 
of impending death. The prob- 
able date is A. D. 68. 


1 
2 


“103 


<© 00 


I. TIMOTHY 


I 
THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL 


Salutation 


Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by command of 
God our Saviour and Jesus Christ our Hope, to 
Timothy, my true son in the faith; Grace, mercy 
and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord 
Jesus Christ. 


Warning Against Unprofitable Discussion 


As I begged you when I was setting out for 
Macedonia, stay where you are at Ephesus, and in- 
struct certain individuals there not to be teaching 
heterodoxy, nor to be paying attention to myths 
and interminable genealogies, which tend to pro- 
mote discussions rather than a stewardship en- 
trusted by God, a stewardship which is in faith. 


Law for the Lawless 


Now the end of the exhortation is love, out of a 
pure heart and a good conscience and an undis- 
sembled faith. Some have failed here, and have 
turned aside to empty argument. Although they 
desire to be teachers of the law, they understand 
neither the words they use nor the subjects they 
talk about. I know well that “the Law is good” if 
a man use it lawfully; but he must remember that 
the Law is not enacted for a good man, but for the 
lawless and rebellious, for the irreligious and sinful, 


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16 


17 


18 


19 


20 


I. TIMOTHY 1 


for the godless and profane, for parricides and mur- 
derers, for the immoral, for sexual perverts, for 
slave dealers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is 
contrary to sound teaching, as laid down in the 
glorious gospel of the blessed God, which has been 
entrusted to me. 


Thanksgiving 

And I am thankful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who 
has thus enabled me, that he accounted me faithful, 
and appointed me to his service, although I had 
formerly been a blasphemer and a persecutor and a 
doer of outrage. But I obtained mercy because 
I acted ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of 
our Lord overflowed with faith and love that is in 
Christ Jesus. 


A Faithful Saying 


Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all accepta- 
tion, that “ Jesus Christ came into the world to 
save sinners”! And there is no greater sinner 
than I! Yet for this very cause I obtained mercy, 
so that in me, the chief of sinners, Jesus Christ 
might display all his boundless patience as an illus- 
tration for those who should later believe in him, 
and so gain life eternal. Now unto the King eter- 
nal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be glory and 
honor forever and ever. Amen! 


Fight the Good Fight 


This charge then, I am laying upon you, Timothy, 
my son, according to the predictions formerly made 
concerning you. Fight the good fight in the spirit 
of these predictions, keeping fast hold of faith and 
a good conscience; which certain individuals have 
cast aside, and so made shipwreck of their faith. 
Among them are Hymenzus and Alexander, whom 
I have given over to Satan, so that they may be 
taught not to blaspheme. 


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I. TIMOTHY 2 


II 


DIRECTIONS ABOUT PUBLIC PRAYER 


Call to Prayer 


First of all then, I am urging that supplications, 
prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered 
regularly for all men; for kings and all who are in 
authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and 
peaceful life in all godliness and gravity. For this 
is good and pleasing in the eyes of our Saviour 
God, whose will it is that all men should be saved, 
and come into full knowledge of the truth. 


Christ the Only Mediator 


For God is one; and one is mediator between God 
and man, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave himself 
as a ransom in behalf of all, to be attested in due 
time. It was for this testimony that I myself was 
appointed a herald and apostle* (I am telling the 
truth, I am not lying), to be a teacher of the 
Gentiles in faith and truth. 


Directions to Godly Women 


My wish, then, is that in every place the men 
should offer prayer, lifting up holy hands, free 
from anger and disputation; in like manner also the 
women. I desire women to clothe themselves in suit- 
able apparel, adorning themselves with reverence 
and self-restraint; not with hair plaited with gold or 
pearls, or with expensive clothes, but (as becomes 
women proclaiming godliness) with the ornament 
of good deeds. Let a woman learn quietly in entire 
submission. I allow no woman to teach, or to exer- 
cise authority over a man; but let her keep quiet. 


Eve, the First Transgressor 


It was Adam who was first formed, then Eve. 
And it was not Adam who was deceived; but it 


1 Apostle might with equal accuracy be translated ‘‘ mis- 
sionary.” The two words mean the same thing. 


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8 


11 
12 


I. TIMOTHY 3 


was the woman who was thoroughly deceived, and 
who became involved in transgression. Notwith- 
standing she will be saved by the Child-bearing; 
(so will they all), if they live in faith and love and 
holiness, with self-restraint. 


III 


QUALIFICATIONS OF PRESBYTERS AND 
DEACONS 


Qualifications of a Minister 


This is a faithful saying, “If any man is seek- 
ing the office of a minister he is aspiring to a noble 
task.” The minister should be a man of blameless 
character; he should be husband of but one wife; 
he should live a sober, self-restrained, orderly life; 
he should be hospitable, skilled in teaching; no 
drinker or brawler; but forbearing, peaceable, and 
no money-lover; he should be a man who rules his 
own household well, and keeps his children ever 
under control and thoroughly well behaved. For if 
a man does not know how to rule his own house- 
hold, how shall he take charge of a church of God? 
He must not be a recent convert, lest he be blinded 
with pride, and incur the doom of the devil.. He 
should also have a good reputation among outsiders, 
lest he fall into reproach, and into a snare of the 
devil. 


Qualifications of Deacons and Deaconesses ? 


Deacons, likewise, must be serious, not double- 
tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of 
gain, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure 
conscience. They should first be tested, and after 
that, if they are found irreproachable, let them serve 
as deacons. Deaconesses likewise must be grave, 
not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let 


deacons be the husband of but one wife, men who 


1 The office of deaconess is later than the New Testament. 
Deacons were both male and female in the apostolic church, 


566 


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; 


. 


I. TIMOTHY 4 


rule their children and their household properly. 

13 For those who have well discharged the duties of a 
deacon are gaining an honorable position for them- 
selves, as well as much fearless confidence in the 
faith of Christ Jesus. 


The Mystery of Godliness 


14 Although I am hoping to come to you before 

15 long, I am writing this to you in case I should be 
detained, to let you see how you ought to behave 
in the household of God—the Church of the ever- 
living God, the pillar and mainstay of the truth. 

16 Yes! without contradiction, great is the mystery of 
godliness! 


An Early Hymn Quoted 
“ He in flesh was manifested, 
In the Spirit was attested; 
By the angels was beholden, 
Among the Gentiles heralded; 
In the world believed on, 
And in glory taken up.” 


IV 
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE 


Warning Against Asceticism 


1 Now the Spirit distinctly declares that in latter 
days there will be some who will fall away from 
the faith, by listening to spirits of error, and to 

2 teachings of demons speaking lies in hypocrisy. 

These are men whose consciences have been seared 

as with a hot iron, who discourage marriage, and 

enjoin abstinence from foods which God created to 
be received with thankfulness, by those who believe, 

4 and have a clear knowledge of the truth. For 
everything that God has created is good, and noth- 
ing is to be rejected if only it is received with 

5 thankfulness. For it is sanctified by the Word of 
God and by prayer. 


co 


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10 


5 Bhs 


13 


14 


15 


16 


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I. TIMOTHY 5 


Error to Be Rebuked 


As you lay all these things before the brothers, 
you will be a noble minister of Christ Jesus, nour- 
ishing -yourself in the precepts of the faith and 
that noble teaching which you have followed. Ever 
reject these profane and old womanish myths; and 
continually train yourself for the contest of godli- 
ness. 


Spiritual Athletics 


For physical training is of some small service, but 
godliness is of service in everything; since it carries 
with it a promise of life, both here and hereafter. 
Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all accepta- 
tion: “ We toil and agonize because our hopes are 
set on the ever-living God, who is the Saviour of all 
men ”—of believers in particular. 


A Minister’s Calling 


12 Keep preaching and teaching these things. Let 
no one despise you on account of your youth, but 
become an example for the faithful in word, in life, 
in love, in faith, in purity. Be applying yourself 
until I come to public reading, preaching, and teach- 
ing. Never neglect the gift within you, which was 
given in fulfilment of prophecy at the time of the 
laying on of hands by the elders. Let these things 
be your care, give yourself wholly to them, so 
that your progress may be manifest to all. Give 
heed to yourself and to your teaching. Persevere 
in these things, for by doing this you will save 
both yourself and your hearers. 


V 


THE PASTOR’S RELATIONS WITH HIS 
PARISHIONERS 


Relations with Parishioners: 
Do not reprimand an aged man, but continue 
pleading with him as if he were your father. Treat 


568 


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I, TIMOTHY 5 


the young men as brothers, the older women as 
mothers, the younger women as sisters in all purity. 


Directions Regarding Widows 


8,4 Ever honor widows who are really widows; but 


On 


1D 


10 


11 


12 
13 


14 
15 


if any widow has children or grandchildren, let these 
learn to show their piety first toward their own © 
household, and to make some return to their parents, 
for that is pleasing in God’s sight: Now she who 
is a widow indeed, and desolate, has fixed her hope 
on God, and devotes herself to supplications and 
prayers, day and night. But she who lives in wan- 
tonness is dead even while she still lives. Keep 
admonishing them regarding these things, so that 
they may be irreproachable. But if any one fails 
to provide for his own, and especially for his kin- 
dred, he has denied the faith and is worse than an 
infidel. 


What Widows Are to Be Placed on the List 


A widow, to be placed upon the list, must be not 
less than sixty years old, and one who has been 
the wife of but one husband. She must be well 
reputed for good works, as one who has brought up 
a family, received strangers with hospitality, washed 
the feet of the saints, relieved the distressed, and 
diligently followed every good work. 


Widows to Be Excluded from the List 

But exclude from the list the younger widows; 
for where they have become wanton against Christ, 
they desire to marry, and incur condemnation be- 
cause they have broken their first troth. Moreover, 
they learn to be idle, wandering about from house 
to house, and are not only idlers, but gossips also, 
and busybodies, repeating things they ought not. 
It is my wish, then, that the younger widows marry, 
bear children, rule their houses, and give no occasion 
to our adversary for railing. For already some 
widows have gone astray after Satan. 


569 


I. TIMOTHY 5 


The Church Not to Relieve Relatives of Just Responsi- 
bility 
16 Any believing woman, who has widowed relatives, 
ought to relieve them, and not let the church be 
burdened with them; so that the church may relieve 
the really destitute widows. 


Directions About Elders or Ministers 


17 Let the elders who fill their offices well, be held 
worthy of twofold honor; especially those who have 
18 the task of preaching and teaching. For the Serip- 
ture says, 
You must not muzzle an ox when he is treading 
out the grain,* 
and 
The worker is worth his wages. 
19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder, ex- 
cept on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 
20 Rebuke offenders publicly, so that others also may 
take warning. 


Solemn Appeal 


21 I charge you solemnly in the presence of God and 
of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the elect angels, 
that you observe these things without prejudice 
against any man, and do nothing out of partiality. 


Personal Counsel 


22 Never ordain any one hastily, nor take part in 
the wrong-doing of others. Keep yourself pure. 

23 [Do not continue to drink nothing but water, but 
take a little wine for your stomach’s sake, and your 
frequent attacks of illness].* 


Sins, Conspicuous and Hidden 


24 Some men’s sins are notorious, and lead them 

straight on the way to condemnation; but others’ 

25 sins follow them up. So also noble deeds are con- 
1 Deut..25 :. 4, 


Su Ken LO fac, 


8 Verse 23 is apparently a marginal gloss, and not a part 
of the original letter. 


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10 


11 


I, TIMOTHY 6 


spicuous, and even if otherwise, they cannot be 
kept hidden. 


VI 
WITNESSING A GOOD CONFESSION 


Duties of Slaves 


Let those who are under the yoke as slaves esteem 
their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the 
name of God and the teachings be not blasphemed. 
Those whose masters are Christian believers must 
not treat them with disrespect, because they are 
brothers; nay, rather slave for them the better be- 
cause those who get the benefit of their services are 
believing and beloved. Continue to teach and preach 
this. 


Covetousness, Which Is Idolatry 


If any one teaches heterodoxy, and refuses to con- 
sent to the wholesome words of the Lord Jesus 
Christ, and to the teachings of religion, he is puffed 
up with conceit and knows nothing, but is doting 
about disputations and a strife of words. These 
give rise to envy, quarrels, railings, evil suspicions, 
and wrangling between men whose minds are cor- 
rupt and destitute of the truth; who suppose that 
godliness is a source of gain. Now godliness with 
contentment is truly gainful; for we have brought 
nothing into the world, and it is certain we can 
carry nothing out! So if we have food and shelter, 
let us be content with that. Those who desire to be 
rich fall into the snares of temptation and many 
foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in 
destruction and perdition. For the love of money is 
a source of all kinds of evil; and in their eager 
desire to be rich some have been led astray from the 
faith, and have pierced themselves with many 
SOrrows. 


Run Well Your Course 


But you, O servant of God, flee from these things, 
and run after integrity, piety, faith, love, stedfast- 


571 


I. TIMOTHY 6 


12 ness, gentleness. Keep contending in the noble 
contest of the faith; seize hold on eternal life, to 
which you were called when you confessed the good 
confession in the presence of many witnesses. 


Hold Fast! 


13 In the presence of God who gives life to all, and 
of Christ Jesus who bore witness to the good con-— 

14 fession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you, keep 
your commission spotless and irreproachable until — 

15 the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. For in 
his own good time this will be, brought about by 
that blessed and only potentate, King of kings and 

16 Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality, who 
dwells in light that none can approach, whom no 
man has ever seen or can see; to whom be honor > 
and power everlasting. Amen. 


Exhortation to the Rich 


17 Charge the rich of this world not to be super- 
cilious, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in God, 

18 who provides all things richly for our use. Charge 
them to practise benevolence, to be rich in good | 

19 works, to be open-handed and generous, laying up 
right good treasure for themselves in the world to 
come, in order that they may obtain the Life which 
is life indeed. 


Finally, My Son 


20 O, Timothy, guard the treasure which is com- 
mitted to you. Shun the profane babblings and con- 
21 tradictions of the falsely called “ knowledge ” which 
Some professing have erred from the faith. 
‘Grace be with you. 


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5 


PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO 
TIMOTHY 


I 
“A GENTLEMAN IN PRISON” 


Greeting 


Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of 
God, sent forth to proclaim the promise of the life 
which is in Christ Jesus: : 

To Timothy, my beloved child; Grace, mercy, and 
peace to you from God our Father and Christ Jesus 
our Lord. 


Thanksgiving 


I give thanks to God whom I worship with a pure 
conscience as my fathers did, when I remember you 
unceasingly in my prayers. Night and day when 
I recall your tears I am longing to see you, that 
my happiness may be complete. I have been re- 
minded of that sincere faith which is in your heart; 
which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and in 
your mother Eunice, and, I am fully persuaded, 
dwells in you also. For this reason let me remind 
you to keep ever blazing that gift of God which is 
in you through the laying on of my hands. For 
God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but a 
spirit of power and of love and of self-control. 


Paul’s Testimony in a Roman Jail 
Do not then be ashamed to bear witness for our 
Lord, nor for me, his prisoner. Nay, join with me in 


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II. TIMOTHY 2 


suffering for the gospel by the power of God. He 
has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not 
dealing with us according to our works, but accord- 
ing to his purpose and grace which he gave us in 
Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. This 
has now been made manifest through the appearing 
of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who has put an end to 
death, and brought life and immortality to light 
through the gospel. Of that gospel I was appointed 
a herald, apostle, and teacher; and that is the 
reason I am now undergoing these sufferings. But 
I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have fully be- 
lieved, and I am thoroughly persuaded that he is 
able to keep what I have given him until that Day. 


Guard Your Treasure 


Hold fast the pattern of sound teaching you have 
heard from me in faith and love which is in Christ 
Jesus. Guard the glorious trust which has been 
committed to you by the aid of the Holy Spirit who 
makes his home in us. 


Faithful Onesiphorus 


You already know that all the Christians in 
Roman Asia forsook me, among them Phygellus and 
Hermogenes. The Lord show mercy to the house- 
hold of Onesiphorus; for many a time he refreshed 
me, and was not ashamed of my chain. But when 
he came to Rome he sought for me until he found 
me. The Lord grant him to find mercy from the 
Lord in that Day! And you know better than I 
how many services he rendered in Ephesus. 


II 
“LIFT HIGH HIS ROYAL BANNER” 


Pass On the Teaching 


Do you then, my son, strengthen your heart in 
the grace which is in Christ Jesus. The teachings 


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Il. TIMOTHY 2 


which you have heard from me, attested by many 
witnesses, deliver into the keeping of faithful men, 
who in their turn will be able to teach others also. 


Play the Game 


8 Take your share in suffering as a good soldier of 
4 Jesus Christ. A soldier in active service avoids en- 

tangling himself in the every-day affairs of life, so 
5 that he may please his commander. And again, an 
athlete is not crowned unless he obeys the rules of 
the game. The farmer who has done the work 
should be the first to get a share of the crop. Re- 
flect on what I am telling you. The Lord will give 
you understanding in everything. 


10 


The Messenger in Chains but the Message Unchained 


8 Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant 
of David, has been raised from the dead according 
9 to the gospel I proclaim. For preaching it I am 
suffering, and am even put in chains as a male- 
10 factor. But God’s message is no prisoner. That is 
why I endure everything for the sake of the chosen, 
that they also may obtain the salvation which is in 
Christ Jésus with eternal glory. 


A Faithful Saying 


11 Faithful is the saying: 
‘‘Tf we have died with him, we shall also live with 

him. 

12 If we endure suffering, we shall also reign with 
him. 

If we disown him, he too will disown us. 

18 If we prove faithless, he abides faithful, for he 

cannot be false to himself.” 


Controversy to Be Shunned 

14 Always call these truths to men’s mind; adjuring 
them in the presence of God to avoid controversy. 
It is a useless thing, and subverts those who listen 
to it. 


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In TIMOTHY 2 


A Workman Unashamed 

Strive earnestly to present yourself unto God, 
tested and proved worthy by trial, a workman 
unashamed, ever cutting a straight path for the 
message of the truth. But avoid profane babble; 
for people will go farther and farther in impiety, 
and their teaching will spread like a gangrene. 
Among such are Hymenzus and Philetus, who have 
gone astray concerning the truth by declaring that 
the resurrection is already past; and they are un- 
dermining the faith of some. Nevertheless God’s 
firm foundation stands unshaken, bearing this in- 
scription, 

THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS; 
and this also, 

LET EVERY ONE WHO NAMES THE NAME 
OF THE LORD RENOUNCE WICKEDNESS- 


Meet for the Master’s Use 


Now in a great house there are not only vessels 
of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some 
for noble, some for ignoble uses. If then a man 
keeps himself clear of these latter, he will be a 
vessel for honor, consecrated, useful to. the Master, 
prepared for every good work. 


Portrait of a Mature Christian 


Flee from the passions of youth, but run after 
righteousness, faith, love, and peace, in company 
with those who out of a pure heart call upon the 
Lord. Ever shun foolish and puerile discussions, for 
you know that they lead to quarrels. The Lord’s 
slave must not quarrel, but must be kind to all men; 
a skilful teacher, patient of wrong. He must be 
gentle when instructing opponents; for possibly God 
may give them a change of mind for the recognition 
of the truth, and they may come to their senses 
again, and escape the snare of the devil, as they are 
restored to life by God to do his will. 


1Num. 16): 5. 
2 Per 9% 13 10) 


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Il. TIMOTHY 3 


Iil 
HOLD FAST IN AN EVIL WORLD 


A Picture of an Unbelieving World 


But of this be sure: In the last days grievous 
times will come. For men will be selfish, mercen- 
ary, boastful, haughty, blasphemous, disobedient to 
parents, ungrateful, irreligious, without natural af- 
fection, merciless, slanderous, dissolute, and brutal. 
They will hate goodness, they will be treacherous, 
reckless, blinded with pride, lovers of pleasure, 
rather than lovers of God. For although they keep 
up the outward form of religion, they deny its 
power. Turn away from all such. Some of them 
creep into private houses and lead captive silly 
women who, laden with sins, and led captive by ever- 
changing impulses, are always learning but never 
able to arrive at knowledge of truth. 


An Example to Be Shunned 


As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so also 
do these men withstand the truth; being corrupt 
in mind and worthless in all that concerns the faith. 


‘But they will not get on; for their folly will be 


made as openly manifest to all as was that of — 
Jannes and Jambres. 


He Is Able to Deliver 


But you, Timothy, have followed my teaching, my 
conduct, my aims, my faith, patience, love, endur- 
ance, as well as the persecutions and sufferings 
which befell me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. 
You know all the persecutions I endured, and how 
the Lord delivered me out of them all! Yes, and 
all who purpose to live a godly life in Christ Jesus 
will be persecuted. But wicked men and impostors 
will go on from bad to worse, deceiving others, and 
being themselves deceived. 


577 


14 
15 


16 


iff 


1 


(Se) 


Or 


II. TIMOTHY 4 


All Scripture Is God-Breathed 


But do you hold fast what you have learned and 
have held to be true. You know those from whom 
you have learned it, and how from a child you have 
known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make 
you wise unto salvation through faith in Christ 
Jesus. Every Scripture, seeing that it is God- 
breathed, is also profitable for teaching, for refuta- 
tion, for correction, and for training in righteous- 
ness, so that the man of God may himself be com- 
plete, and completely equipped for every good work. 


IV 


PAUL’S SWAN SONG 


A Solemn Charge 


I adjure you in the presence of God and of Christ 
Jesus who is about to judge the living and the dead— 
by his appearing and his kingdom, I adjure you— 
proclaim the message, be urgent in season and out 
of season; convince, rebuke, encourage, with never- 
failing patience and teaching. For a time will 
come when they will not listen to wholesome teach- 
ing, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will 
heap up for themselves teachers upon teachers to 
satisfy their own fancies. They will turn away 
their ears from the truth, and turn aside to myths. 

But.as for you, be always self-controlled, face 
hardships, do the work of a missionary, discharge 
all the duties of your ministry. 


The End of a Glorious Day 


I for my part am a libation already being poured 
in sacifice; and the time of my unmooring is at 
hand. I have fought in the glorious contest; I have 
run the race; I have kept the faith. Henceforth 
there is laid up for me the garland of righteousness 
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to 
me on that Day, and not to me only, but also to 
all those who have loved his appearing. 


578 


II. TIMOTHY 4 


Cry of a Lonely Heart 


9,10 Do your best to come to me speedily, for Demas 


11 


12 
13 


14 
15 
16 


17 


18 


19 
20 


21 


22 


has deserted me for love of this present world, 
and is gone to Thessalonica; Crescens is gone to 
Galatia; Titus to Dalmatia. Luke only is with me. 
Pick up Mark, and bring him with you, for he is 
useful to me in my ministry. Tychicus I have sent 
to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak I left 
in Troas with Carpus; also my books, but especially 
my parchments. 


They All Forsook Him 


Alexander, the coppersmith, manifested bitter 
hostility toward me. The Lord will requite him 
according to his works. Be also on your guard 
against him, for he has violently opposed my argu- 
ments. At the time of my first defense no one stood 
by me; on the contrary they all deserted me—may 
it not be laid to their charge! 


But Christ Stood By 


Nevertheless the Lord Jesus stood by me, and 
strengthened my heart, that through me full procla- 
mation of the gospel might be made, and the Gen- 
tiles might hear it; and I was rescued from the 
lion’s jaws. And the Lord will rescue me from 
every evil assault, and will preserve me for his 
heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever 
and ever! Amen! 


Greetings 

Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, and the 
household of Onesiphorus. 

Erastus remained at Corinth; Trophimus I left 
behind me ill at Miletus. 

Do try to come before winter. 

Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens and Linus 
and Claudia and all the brotherhood. 

The Lord Jesus be with your spirit. Grace be 
with you all. 


579 








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PAUL’S LETTER 
TO 


TITUS 


Date: Nothing is surely known about the 
date of this brief personal letter. 
It was probably written about 
ADSI. 


To whom written: Titus, the man to whom it was ad- 
dressed, was one of Paul’s com- 
panions on his missionary jour- 
neys. He seems to have served as 
Paul’s messenger frequently. 
(2 |Opm e723; 12 : 18.) 

He is young, is in charge of the 
church located in Crete, and is 
meeting certain difficulties. The 
letter is apparently in answer to 
one that he has written, asking 
counsel. 


4 


1 


5 


ATIUS 


I 
THE MISSION OF TITUS IN CRETE 


Greeting 


Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ 
Jesus our Saviour. 

To Titus, my true son in a common faith, from 
Paul, a slave of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, 
according to the faith of God’s elect, and to the 
knowledge of the truth which goes with piety; I 
write in hope of life eternal which God who never 
lies, promised before times eternal, but manifested 
in his own time; that word of his in proclaiming 
which I have been entrusted by command of God 
our Saviour. 


Qualifications for the Ministry 


I left you in Crete for this reason, that you might 
set right the things left unfinished, and appoint 
presbyters in every city as I had instructed you; 
men who are blameless, the husband of one wife, 
with believing children who are not accused of riot 
or insubordination. For indeed a presiding officer, as 
God’s steward, ought to be blameless, not self-willed 
or quick-tempered, not a drunkard or violent, or 
greedy of filthy lucre; but he must be hospitable, 
a lover of the good, sober-minded, just, holy, self- 
controlled. He must hold to the faithful word 
according to the teaching, so that he may be. able 
both to encourage by sound teaching, and to confute 
our opponents. 


583 


10 


JM 


12 


13 
14 


15 


16 


il 
Z 


3 
4 
5 


TITUS 22 


Concerning False Teachers 


For there are many individuals who are unruly, 
empty talkers and deceivers, particularly those of 
the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped; 
for they upset whole households and, for filthy 
lucre’s sake, teach what they ought not to teach. 
By one of their own number, by a prophet of their 
own, it has been said, 

“Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle glut- 
tons.” 

This testimony is true. So rebuke them sharply, 
so as to make them sound in the faith, not giving 
heed to Jewish myths and commandments of men 
who turn away from the truth. All things are pure 
to the pure; but to the contaminated and the faith- 
less nothing is pure, nay, their very minds and 
consciences are tainted. They profess to know God, 
but by their deeds they disown him; in that they 
are detestable, disobedient, and reprobate for good 
work of any sort. 


II 
ON TITUS’ RELATIONS TO HIS FLOCK 


Teaching and Example 


But do you, on your part, speak what becomes 
sound teaching; that the older men be self-con- 
trolled, serious and sober-minded, sound in faith, in 
love, in patience; that older women likewise be 
reverent in demeanor, not slanderers or slaves to 
much wine, but teachers of what is right. .They 
should train the younger women to love their hus- 
bands and children, to be sober-minded, chaste, 
workers at home, kind and submissive to their hus- 
bands, in order that God’s message be not maligned. 


6,7 The younger men exhort to be sober-minded; in 


8 


every respect showing yourself an example of good 
works. In your teaching be serious and sincere. 
Let the instruction that you give be sound and 
above reproach, so that our opponents may be 
ashamed because they find no evil things to say 


584 


TIDUS 3 


9 about us. Exhort slaves to be obedient to their own 
masters, and to be well-pleasing to them in every 

10 respect; not to contradict nor pilfer, but to exhibit 
praiseworthy trustworthiness in everything, that 
they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in 
all things. 


The Grace of God: A Hymn of Hope 


11 “ For God’s grace has shined forth 
Bringing salvation to all men 
12 And schooling us to renounce impiety and evil 
passions, 
And to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this 
present age; 
13. While we look for the blessed hope git epiphany 
Of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus 
Christ. 
14. He gave himself for us to redeem us from all 
iniquity, 
And to purify unto himself a people zealous of 
good works.” 


15 Thus speak, exhort, reprove with all authority. Let 
no one despise you. 


III 


FURTHER DIRECTIONS 


Justified by His Grace, We Have Peace 


1 Remind them to be submissive to their rulers and 
authorities; let them be obedient, ready for every 
2 good work; they must speak evil of none, they must 
not be quarrelsome, but gentle, showing perfect 
3 meekness toward all. For we were ourselves once 
foolish, disobedient, deceived, slaving for various 
lusts and pleasures, passing our lives in malice and 
envy. We were hateful, and we hated one another. 


A Hymn of Grateful Praise 
4 But when the kindness of God our Saviour, 
And his love toward men shined forth, 


585 


5 


10 


15 


TITUS 3 


He saved us, not because of any deeds that we had 
done in righteousness, 

But because of his own pity for us. 

He saved us by that washing of regeneration and 
rehewing of the Holy Spirit 

Which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus 
Christ our Saviour; 

In order that being justified by his grace, 

We might be made heirs according to the hope of 
eternal life. 

This saying is trustworthy. 


Work, and Do Not Argue 


On this I want you to firmly insist; that those 
who have faith in God must be careful to maintain 
honest’ occupations. Such counsels are good and 
profitable for men. But avoid foolish questionings 
and genealogies and dissensions and wranglings 
about the law; for these are unprofitable and empty. 

After a first and second admonition, refuse a man 
who is causing divisions; you may be sure that such 
a man is perverted and sinning, and is self-con- — 
demned. 


Farewell Messages 


As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, 
join me in Nicopolis as quickly as you can, for I 
have arranged to winter there. Speed Zenas the 
lawyer, and Apollos, on their journey diligently. 
Let them want nothing, and “let our people learn 
to devote themselves to honest work to supply the 
necessities of their teachers,’”* so that they be not 
unfruitful. 

All who are with us salute you. Salute those who 
love me in faith. Grace be with you all. | 


1 Translation of Arthur S. Way. 


586 


LETTER OF PAUL 
TO 


PHILEMON 


Date and Authorship: Written about A. D. 61, by Paul, 
during his first imprisonment. 


To whom addressed: Sent to Philemon, a convert of 
Paul’s, living perhaps in 
Laodicea, by the hands of his 
runaway slave Onesimus, to 
beseech Philemon to receive 
him as being with himself a 
fellow slave of the Lord 
Jesus. 


The name Onesimus means_ 
“ serviceable.” Paul indulges 


in a play on words with his 


name. 


1 
2 


PHILEMON 


Greeting 


To my beloved friend and coworker Philemon, 
to my sister Apphia, to my fellow soldier Archippus, 
and to the church which meets at Philemon’s house: 

From Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and 
brother Timothy: Grace and peace be to you from 
God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 


Thanksgiving 

I am ever mentioning you in my prayers, and 
giving thanks to God, because I am hearing of your 
love and of the faith which you hold, not only to- 
ward the Lord Jesus Christ, but toward all the 
saints. And I pray that your participation may be- 
come effectual, as you come to acknowledge every 
good thing which is in you to Christ. For I have 
great joy and comfort in your love, my brother, 
because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed. 


Paul Makes Request 


And so, although I might be bold in Christ to 
dictate to you what is fitting, yet for love’s sake, I 
rather beseech you, I, Paul, an old man, and now 
a prisoner for Christ Jesus! I beseech you for 
my son, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in these 
chains. Once you found him “ unprofitable,” but 
now he is “profitable”? to you and to me. I am 
sending him back to you, he himself, that is, my 
very heart! I could wish to retain him at my side, 
so that he might minister to me in your stead, in 
my bonds for the gospel. But without your con- 
sent I was unwilling to do anything, so that your 
kindness to me might be of your own free will, and 
not of compulsion. 


589 


PHILEMON 


Not a Slave, a Brother 


15 ‘Perhaps for this reason you were separated from 
him for an hour, in order that you might have him — 

16 back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than 
a slave, as a brother beloved; especially dear to me, 
but how much more to you, both as a man and a 

17 fellow Christian. If then you count me as a 
partner, receive him as you would me. 


Put It to My Account 


18 And if he has wronged you at all, or is owing you 
19 anything, charge that to me. I Paul am writing 
this in my own handwriting, 
“TI will repay you.” 
But I will not mention that you owe me, over 
20 and over, your very soul. Come, my brother, let me 
have joy in the Lord because of you! Refresh my 
heart in Christ! 
21 Because I am thoroughly persuaded of your obedi- 
ence, I have written you, knowing full well that 
22 you will do by me what I am asking. Please also 
prepare for me a lodging, for I am hoping by your 
prayers to be restored to you again. 
23. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, 
24 sends you greetings; so do Mark, Aristarchus, 
Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. 
25 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with 
your spirit. Amen. 


590 


EPISTLE 
TO THE 


HEBREWS 


Date: Before the Destruction of Jerusalem 
in AsiD.:70/n(Hebel 1294 Ad ud lode.) 


SSNNORSINab: Uncertain. From early ages the au- 
thorship has been in dispute. It 
has been attributed to Luke, Bar- 
nabas, Clement, or Paul. Luther 
assigned it to Apollos. Harnack 
thinks that Priscilla may have writ- 
ten it. Its writer assumes to have 
been the friend of Timothy. (Heb. 
13 : 23.). The epistle was received 
from the earliest times as canonical, 
and included without controversy 
as one of the apostolic epistles. 


Aim: 1. To show that the ritual of the Old 
Testament was but a dim fore- 
shadowing of the glories of the 
gospel. That in Christ we have a 
better mediator, a better taber- 
nacle, a better testament, a better 
sacrifice, than in the Old Testa- 
ment; that he is superior to Moses, 
to Aaron, to Joshua, to angels; that 
over against the temporary priest- 
hood we have the eternal priesthood 
of the Saviour. 

2. To set forth the knowledge of the 
Son of God as the true secret of the 
Christian life. 


Characteristics: Intended for Hebrew Christians who 
have suffered persecution and are 
in danger of apostasy—possibly to 
the church in Alexandria. 

The epistle divides into two parts: 
chapters 1 to 10: 18, doctrinal; and 
chapters 10: 19 to 13: 25, prac- 
tical. 





HEBREWS ° 


I 


CHRIST THE MEDIATOR OF THE BETTER 
| COVENANT 


1. “ The Son, Ged’s Word to Man” 


1 God, who in ancient days spoke to our ancestors 
in the prophets, at many different times and by 

2 various methods, has at the end of these days 
spoken to us in a Son whom he appointed heir of all 
things; through whom also he made the universe. 

3 He being an emanation of God’s glory and stamp 
of his substance, and upholding the universe by the 
utterances of his power, after by himself making 
purification of our sins, has taken his seat on the 
right hand of the Majesty on High. 


2. The Son Superior to Angels 


4 He is as much superior to the angels as the name 
5 that he has inherited surpasses theirs. For to what 
angel did God ever say, 
Thou art my Son; this day have I become: thy 
Father? * 
and again, 
I will be a father to him, and he shall be to me 
a son? ? 
6 And further, when he brought the firstborn into the 
habitable world, he said, 
Let all the angels of God worship him. 
7 While of the angels he said, 
He makes his angels into winds, 
His ministering servants into flames of fire.‘ 


TRS Les Ts SReIOMaot,. 
22 Sam. 7: 14, Ps) A04 a4) 


593 


10 


11 
12 


13 


14 


1 
2 


HEBREWS 2 


But to the Son he says: 

Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, 

And the scepter of thy kingdom is the scepter of 

justice. 

Thou hast loved righteousness and hated lawless- 

ness ; 

Therefore did God, thy God, anoint thee with the 

ow of gladness beyond thy comrades.® 
And, 

Thou, O Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foun- 

dations of the earth, 

And the heavens are the work of thy hands. 

They will perish, but thou ryemainest ; 

They all will grow old like a garment, 

Like a mantle thou wilt fold them up, 

And like a garment they will be changed. 

But thou art the same, 

And thy years will never fail. 

To which of the angels has he ever said, 

Sit at my right hand, 

Tull I make thy foes a footstool for thy feet?™ 
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth for 
service in behalf of those who are about to inherit 
salvation? 


BPs. 45°: 6,07. 
6.Ps} 102 42527. 
"Bs dtO 21, 

II 


CHRIST RULES BY SHARING OUR NATURE 


First Warning: To Hear the Son When He Speaks 


For this reason we must pay the more earnest 
heed to the things which we have heard, for fear 
we should drift away. For if the word uttered 
through angels stood firm, so that every transgres- 
sion and act of disobedience met with its just retri- 
bution, how shall we escape if we neglect so great 
a salvation? Which having begun to be spoken by 
the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard 
him; God himself corroborating their testimony by 
signs and wonders and a variety of miraculous 


594 


10 


11 


12 


13 


HEBREWS 2 


powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit imparted in 
accordance with his own will. 


Made a Little Lower than Deity 

It is not to angels that God subjected the age to 
be, of which we are speaking. But some one, some- 
where, testified, saying: 

What is Man, that thou art mindful of him? 

Or any man, that thou carest for him? 

Thou hast made him only a little lower than the 

angels ; * 

With glory and honor hast thou crowned him; 

And hast set him to govern the works of thy 

hands; 

Thou hast put all things under his feet.’ 

For this putting all things under man means 
leaving nothing not subject to him. But we do not 
yet see all things subject to him. What we do see 
is Jesus, who was made for a time a little lower 
than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor, 
because of the suffering of death, in order that 
through God’s grace he might taste death for every 
man. 


The Pioneer of Salvation 


For it befitted him, for whom and through whom 
all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, to 
make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect through 
sufferings. For both he who sanctifies and those 
whom he is sanctifying are all from One; for which 
reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 
saying: 

I will proclaim thy name to my brothers; 

In the midst of the Church I will hymn thy 

praises.* 
And again, 
I myself will put my trust in God.* 


1The text of the Hebrew psalm has the word “ Deity” 
here, It was translated ‘‘ angels’? in the Septuagint, and 
so appears as ‘‘ angels’ here. : 

2Ps. 8 : 4-6. 

SP Rees 4 2. 

Mean 8s 17; 18: 


595 





14 


15 


16 


17 


18 


—" 


oO 


HEBREWS 3 


And again, 
Lo, I and the children God has given me? 


Made Like His Brethren 


Therefore, since the children are sharers in flesh 
and blood, he also similarly partook of the same, in 
order that through death he might render power- 
less him that had the power of death, that is, the 
devil; and might deliver those who through fear 
of death had been subject to life-long bondage. For 
assuredly it is not angels, nay, it is the offspring 
of Abraham, whom he is ever taking by the hand. 
And so it was necessary that he should in all points 
be made like his brothers, so that he might become 
a compassionate and faithful high priest, in all 
that relates to God, to make reconciliation for the 
sins of the people. For inasmuch as he himself has 
suffered, being tempted, he is also able instantly to 
succor those who are tempted. 


SOM Ales O- 


Il 
CHRIST SUPERIOR TO MOSES AND JOSHUA 


Moses the Servant: Christ the Son 


Therefore, holy brothers, comrades of a heavenly 
calling, fix your thoughts then upon Jesus, the 
Apostle and High Priest of our confession. How 
faithful he was’ to the God who appointed him! 
For while Moses also was faithful in all God’s house, 
Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory 
than Moses, inasmuch as he who has built a house 
has higher honor than the house itself. For every 
house has its builder; but he who built the universe 
is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all his 
house as a servant, bearing testimony to a witness 
about to be spoken; but Christ as a Son in his own 
house; and we are that house, if we retain the 
cheerful courage and pride of our hope firm unto 
the end. 


596 


HEBREWS 3» 


Second Warning: Not to Fail of Promised Rest 


7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: 
If you hear God’s voice today, 

8 Continue not to harden your hearts as in, the 

Provocation, 

On the day of temptation in the wilderness, 

9 When your forefathers tried my forbearance 
And saw my deeds for forty years. 

10 For ths reason I was sore displeased with that 


generation, 
And said, “ They are always wandering in their 
hearts ; 


They have never learned my ways”; 
11 Sol swore in my wrath, 
“They shall never enter into my rest.” } 


Therefore Harden Not Your Heart 


12 See to it, brothers, that there shall never be in 
any one of you an evil and unbelieving heart, mani- 
15 festing itself in apostasy from the living God. On 
the contrary, encourage each other daily, so long 
as there is a “ Today,” so that no one of you is 
14 hindered by the deceitfulness of sin. For we are 
become comrades of the Christ, if we hold our first 
15 title deed firm until the very end. In the words 
of Scripture, 
Today, if you hear his voice, 
Do not continue to harden your hearts as at the 
Provocation.’ 


Example from the Past 


16 For who were they that heard and yet provoked 
him? Was it not all who came out of Egypt under 
17 the leadership of Moses? And with whom was he 
grieved for forty years? Was it not with those 
who had sinned, and whose dead bodies fell in the 
18 wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they 
should never enter into his rest, if not to those 
who had proved faithless? So you see that it was 
through unbelief that they were not able to enter in. 


LPs OSWtAT-11 Ne Pate E17: 
597 


1 


=} 


—  . 


HEBREWS 4 | | 


IV 
THE REST THAT REMAINS 


The Rest of Faith 


Let us be on our guard, then, though there is a 
promise still standing of being admitted to his rest, 
lest any one of you should be found to have come | 
short of it. For the Good News is come to us just 
as it did to them. But the message they heard was 
of no benefit to them, because they did not share _ 
the faith of those who gave heed to it. We are. 
actually entering into that rest, we who have be-— 
lieved, as God has said, 

In my wrath I swore— 

“They shall not enter into my Rest,’? | 
although his works were finished since the founda- 
tion of the world. 


The Rest of God 


For he has said, somewhere, regarding the seventh 
day, : 
And God rested on the seventh day from all his 
work.? 

And again in this passage, 

They shall not enter into my rest. 

Since, then, it remains that some should enter into 
it, and since those who formerly had the Good News _ 
preached to them did not enter in because of unbe- — 
lief, he again fixes a day, saying long afterward by 
David's lips, in words already quoted, 

Today if you hear his voice, 

Continue not to harden your hearts. 

For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not 
have spoken afterward of another dayl So there © 
remains a Sabbath Rest for the people of God. For — 
whoever has entered into his rest has rested from 
his works, just as God did from his. 


a SUROD ean Loe Sag YS lO 155 Gs 25 | I 
2Gen. 2: 2. 4 Pssst 18... 


598 





: 


) 


HEBREWS 5 


The Sharp and Living Word, the Logos 


11 Let us, then, be earnest to enter into that rest, so 
that no one may fall into the same example of 


12 disobedience. For living is the Word of God, and 


active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, 
piercing even to the severance of soul from spirit, 
of both joints and marrow, and is a discerner of 
the very thoughts and conceptions of the heart. 

13 And there is not a creature hidden from him, but 
all things are naked and laid prostrate before the 
eyes of him with whom we have to do. 


Our Sympathetic High Priest 


14. Inasmuch, then, as we have a great High Priest, 
Jesus, the Son of God, who has passed through the 
heavens, let us hold fast our confession of faith. 

15 For we have not a High Priest who cannot sympa- 
thize with our weaknesses, but one who has been 
tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. 

16 Let us, then, draw near with glad boldness to the 
throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and 
find grace to help us in our times of need. 


V 


JESUS OUR HIGH PRIEST SUPERIOR TO 
AARON 


 Peertarai@alledibyaGod 


1 For every high priest chosen from time to time 
from among men is appointed on behalf of men, in 
matters relating to God, to offer both gifts and 

2 sacrifices on behalf of sins. He is able to deal gently 
with the ignorant and erring, since he himself also 

3 is encompassed with moral weakness, and because 
of this weakness he is bound to offer sin-offerings 

4 not only for the people, but also for himself. Again 
no one takes this honorable office for himself, but 

5 he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So even the 
Christ was not raised to the high glory of the 


599 


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a 
12 


13 
14 


1 


HEBREWS 6 


priesthood by himself, but on the contrary by Him 
who said to him: 

Thou art my Son; this day have I become thy 
Father; * 
and again, 

Thou art a priest forever, after the order of 


Melchisedek.* 
High Priest According to the Order of Melchisedek 


In the days of his flesh, with bitter cries and 
weeping Jesus offered up prayers and supplications 
to Him who was able to save him out of death; 
and he was heard because of his devout submission. 
Though he was a son, yet learned he obedience 
through the things which he suffered; and by being 
thus made perfect, he became the source of enduring 
salvation to all who obey him, while God himself 
pronounced him High Priest according to the order 
of Melchisedek. 






Third Warning: Against Sloth and Apostasy 


Concerning him I have much to say, and much 
that is hard to make clear to you, because you have 
grown dull of hearing. And this too, although you 
ought by this time to be teaching others, you are 
still needing some one to teach you the very rudi- 
ments of divine revelation. You need milk, not solid 
food. For every one who feeds on milk is inexperi- 
enced in the word of righteousness. He is still an 
infant. But solid food is for adults, that is, for 
those who by constant practise have their faculties 
trained to discriminate between good and evil. 


RES oa ie Oe 
PS SO. 4. 


VI 
INHERITING THE PROMISES 


Pressing On to Perfection 4 
So let us get beyond the teaching of the elemen- 
tary doctrines of Christ, and let us be borne along 


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HEBREWS 6 


toward what is mature. Let us not be continually 
laying again a foundation of repentance from dead 
works, of faith in God, of the teaching regarding 
ablutions and the laying on of hands, of the resur- 
rection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And 
this we will do, if God permit. 


The Danger of Falling Away 

For in the case of those who have been once for 
all enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly 
gift, and become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and 
tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the 
Future Age, and then fallen away, it is impossible 
to renew them again unto repentance. For they 
repeatedly crucify to themselves the Son of God 
afresh, and expose him to an open shame. For land 
that has drunk the showers that now and again 
fall upon it, and produced vegetation useful for 
those for whom it was tilled, receives a blessing 
from God; but if it produces thorns and thistles, it 
is considered worthless, and is in danger of being 
cursed, and its end will be to be burned. 


Diligence and Perseverance Inherit the Promises 
But though we thus speak, we are persuaded 

better things of you, beloved, and things that ac- 
company salvation. For God is not unjust; he will 
not forget your work and the love you showed for 
his cause, in sending help to your fellow Christians, 
as you are still doing. But I am longing that each 
of you continue to show the same diligence to realize 
the fulness of your hope, even to the end. Then do 
not become slack, but be imitators of those who 
through faith and patience are inheriting the prom- 
ises. For when God made the promise to Abraham, 
since he could swear by none greater, he swore by 
himself, saying: | 

Surely I will bless you, and bless you; 

I will increase you, dnd increase you, 


5 And so by patiently waiting, Abraham obtained the 


promise. 
1Gen. 22 : 16, 17. 


601 


HEBREWS 7 


God’s Immutable Oath 


16 +[I am referring to the cath] because men swear- 


by what is greater than themselves, and in every 
dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. 


17 On which principle God, wishing to show more con- 


vincingly to the heirs of the promise the immuta- 


18 bility of his purpose, mediated with an oath; that 


by means of two immutable things—his promise 
and his oath—in which it is impossible for God to 
break faith, we refugees may have strong encour- 
19 agement to grasp the hope set before us. This hope 
we have as an anchor of the soul, secure and strong, 


; 
| 
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: 


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| 


| 


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2 


and passing into the sanctuary which is beyond the 
20 veil; whither Jesus himself is entered as a fore- 
runner on our behalf, having become a priest for-— 


ever, after the order of Melchisedek. 


Vil 


THE BETTER PRIESTHOOD AFTER THE 
ORDER OF MELCHISEDEK 


The Mysterious Melchisedek 
1 It was this Melchisedek, King of Salem and Priest 


of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning © 


from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him; 


4 
f 


2 and it was to him that Abraham apportioned a 
tithe of all the spoil. He was first, as his name 
signifies, King of righteousness, and then King of > 

3 Salem, that is, King of Peace; without father or 
mother, without lineage, having neither beginning — 
of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of — 


God, he remains a priest in perpetuity. 


Melchisedek Superior to Abraham 


4 But observe how great this man was, to whom 


even Abraham, the Patriarch, gave a tenth part of 


5 the spoils. Now those of the sons of Levi who are — 
appointed to the priesthood, are authorized by the 
Law to take tithes of the people, that is, of their — 


brothers, and that too, although these are descended 
602 


11 


12 
13 


14 


15 
16 


gs 


18 
19 


HEBREWS 7 


from Abraham. But this man who had no Levitical 
genealogy actually took tithes of Abraham, and 
blessed him to whom the promises belong. Now it 
is beyond all controversy that the inferior is always 
blessed by the superior. Again it is mortal men 
who receive tithes in the one case; while in the 
other it is he of whom it is attested, “‘ He lives.” 
And even Levi, who is the receiver of tithes, so 
to speak, paid tithes through Abraham; for Levi 
was yet in the loins of his father, when Meichisedek 
met Abraham. 


Melchisedek More than Aaron and the Law 


Now if there were perfection through the Levit- 
ical priesthood, (and it was under it that the people 
received the Law) why was it still necessary for 
another kind of priest to arise, after the order of 
Melchisedek, instead of being reckoned according 
to the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood 
changes, of necessity the law also changes. He who 
is thus described belonged to another tribe, not one 
member of which has ever served at the altar. For 
it is evident that our Lord was descended from 
Judah, a tribe of which Moses said nothing concern- 
ing the priesthvod. 


A Priesthood According to the Power of an Endless Life 


And this is yet more abundantly clear if, after 
the likeness of Melchisedek, there arises another 
Priest, who has become such, not according to the 
law of a transitory enactment, but according to the 
energy of an indissoluble life. For the words are 
in evidence, 

Thou art a priest forever after the order of 
Melehisedek.* 


A Guarantor of a Better Covenant 


For there is a setting aside of a foregoing com- 
mandment, because of its weakness and unprofit- 
ableness (for the Law brought nothing to perfec- 
tion) ; and there is the bringing in of a better hope 


VPs, 110 : -4. 
603 


HEBREWS 8 


20 by which we draw near to’ God; mightier because it 
21 was not promised apart from an oath. For al- 
though those priests became such without an oath, 
He had an oath from God who said to him, 
The Lord hath sworn and will not change, 
Thou art a priest forever? 
22 And by so much Jesus becomes the guarantor of a 
better covenant. 


Able to Save to the Uttermost 


23 And they indeed have been made priests, many in 
number, because they have been prevented by death 

24 from continuing; but he, because of his abiding 

25 forever, holds his priesthood inviolable. Hence 
also he is able to continue saving to the uttermost 
those who are ever drawing near to God through 
him, seeing that he is ever living to intercede 
for them. 


A High Priest Eternally Perfect and Potent 


26 For we needed just such a high priest, holy, inno- 
cent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted 

27 above the heavens; one who has no need, like the 
high priests, to offer up daily sacrifices, first for his 
own sins, then for those of the people. For his 
sacrifice was made once for all, when he offered 

28 up himself. For the Law appoints human beings 
to be high priests, men with all their weakness; but 
the word of the oath, which was later than the Law, 
appoints a Son, perfected forevermore. 


$s. 110s, 4. 
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A BETTER SANCTUARY AND A BETTER 
COVENANT 


The Priest-King on the Throne 


1 The pith of all that we have been saying is this; 
we do have such a High Priest; and he has taken 


his seat on the right hand of the throne of Majesty 
2 in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary and of | 


| 
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10 


11 


HEBREWS 8 


the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not 
man. For every high priest is appointed to offer 
both gifts and sacrifices; whence it follows that this 
High Priest also must have some offering to make. 
Now were he on earth, he would not even be a 
priest, since there are here those who present the 
gifts according to the Law—those priests who serve 
a mere outline and shadow of the heavenly reality, 
just as Moses was divinely instructed when he was 
about to build the Tabernacle: 

“ See,” he says, “that you make everything on 
the pattern showed you on the mountain.” * 


The Priest-King the Mediator of a Better.Covenant 


But Jesus has obtained a better ministry, by so 
much as he is also Mediator of a better covenant, 
which has been enacted upon better promises. For 
if the first covenant had been faultless, there would 
have been no need for a second. But finding fault 
with them, He says: 

“ There are days coming,’ says the Lord, 

“ When I will establish with the house of Israel and 
with the house of Judah a new covenant; . 

Not according to the covenant which I made with 

- their forefathers, 

On the day when I took them by the hand to lead 
them forth out of the land of Egypt; 

For they did not continue in my covenant, 

And therefore I disregarded them,” says the Lord. 

“ For this is the covenant which I will covenant with 
the house of Israel, 

After these days,’ says the Lord; 

“TJ will put my laws into their minds, 

And upon their hearts will I write them}; 

And I will be their God, 

And they shall be my people; 

And they shall not teach every man his fellow cit- 
1Zen, 

And every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; 

For all shall know me, 

From the least to the greatest of them. 


1 Exod. 25 : 40. 
605 


12 
13 


mo hb - 


6 
7 


10 


HEBREWS 9 


For I will have mercy upon their wrong-doings, 
And their sins I will remember no more.” * 

By calling the covenant ‘ new,” He has made the 
first one obsolete; and whatever is becoming obso- 
lete and aged, is near to vanishing. 


2Jer. 31 : 31-34. 
Ix 


A NEW AND LIVING WAY INTO THE 
HOLIEST 


The Tabernacle Described 


Now even the first covenant had its ordinances of 
public worship, and its sanctuary, a material one. 
For a tent was built, the outer one called the Holy 
Place, in which were the lamp and the table and the 
loaves of the Presence; and behind the second veil 
was the tent called the Holy of Holies. In it was 


the golden altar of incense, and also the Ark of © 


the Covenant covered all over with gold, in which 
was a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron’s 
rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 
while above it, overshadowing the mercy-seat, were 
the cherubim of glory. But I must not speak about 
these in detail. 


The Tabernacle a Parable of the Way Into the Holiest 


Such then were the arrangements. Into the outer 
tent the priests enter continually in the perform- 
ance of their duties; but into the inner tent the 
high priest only goes alone, once a year, and that 


not without blood, which he offers for himself and © 


for the ignorances of the people. The Holy Spirit 
teaching by this that the way into the Holiest has 
not yet been disclosed while the first tent is still 
standing. This is a parable, for the present time, 


according to which gifts and sacrifices are offered — 
that are not able, as far as conscience is concerned, — 
to perfect the worshiper; since they consist only in — 


meats and drinks and various ablutions, carnal ordi- 
nances, imposed until the time of reformation. 


606 


HEBREWS 9 


Christ the Opener of the Holiest Place 


11 But when Christ came, a High Priest of good 
things to come, he passed through the greater and 
more perfect tent not made with hands, that is to 

12 say, not of this material creation, not taking the 
blood of goats and oxen, but his own blood, and 
entered once for all into the Holy Place, obtaining 
for us an eternal redemption. 


How Much More! 


13 ~=For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes 
of a heifer sprinkled on those who have been de- 

14 filed, sanctify to the cleansing of the flesh, how 
much more shall the blood of Christ, who through 
his eternal spirit offered himself free from blemish 
to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works. 
unto the service of an ever-living God! 


Christ’s Death Ratifies the New Testament 


15 And because of this he is the Mediator of a new 
testament, in order that, since a death has taken 
place to atone for offenses committed under the first 
testament, those who have been called may receive 

16 the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where 
there is a testament, there must also be brought 

17 forward in evidence the death of the testator. For 
a testament is only of force in case of the dead, be- 
ing never valid so long as the testator lives. 


Even the First Covenant Not Bloodless 


18 Accordingly we find that not without blood was 
19 the first testament enacted. For after every com- 
mandment according to the law had been spoken 
by Moses to the people, he took the blood of calves 
and goats, and scarlet wool and hyssop, and 
sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 
20 saying, 
This is the blood of that testament which. God 
commanded in regard to you. 


1 Exod. 24 : 8. 
607 


HEBREWS 10 


21 Moreover the tabernacle and all the vessels of ser- 

22 vice he sprinkled likewise, and indeed, according to 
the Law, almost everything is purified by blood, and 
without the shedding of blood there is no remission 
of sins. 


The Sacrifice Once for All 


28 While, then, it was necessary that the copies of 
the heavenly things should be cleansed by such sacri- 
fices, the heavenly things themselves required nobler 

24 sacrifices than these. For it was not into a Sanc- 
tuary made by hands, a mere type of the reality, 
that Christ entered, but he entered into heaven it- 
self, now to appear in the very presence of God on 

25 our behalf. Nor did he enter to offer himself re- 
peatedly, as the high priest entered into the sanc- 
tuary, year after year, with blood that was not his 

26 own; (for in that case he would have needed to 
suffer repeatedly, ever since the foundation of the — 
world;) but now, once for all, at the end of the > 
ages, he has appeared to abolish sin, by the offering 

27 of himself. And since it is appointed to men once to 

28 die, and after that the judgment; so also the Christ, 
after being once for all offered to bear the sins of 
many, will appear a second time, without sin, to 
those who wait for him for salvation. 


: 
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Xx 


THE NEW WAY INTO THE HOLIEST 


The Sacrifices of the Law Cannot Take Away Sin | 
1 For the Law, being only a shadow of the good 
things to come, and not their very substance, its 
priests cannot with the same sacrifice which year 
after year they offer continually, make perfect those — 
2 who draw near. Otherwise would they not have 
ceased to be offered? Because the worshipers hav- 
ing been once cleansed, would have had no more con- 
3 sciousness of sin. But on the other hand, in these 
sacrifices sins are called to memory, year after 


668 





HEBREWS 10 


4 year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and 
5 goats to take away sin. It is for this reason that 
the Christ, on coming into the world, declared: 
Sacrifice and offerings thou dost not desire, 
But a body didst thou prepare for me; 
6 In whole burnt offerings and sin offerings 
Thou hast taken no pleasure. 
7 Then TI said, “I am come—in the roll of the book 
it is written of me— 
To do thy will, O God.’’? 
8 First when it is said, 
Thou hast no longing for, thou takest no delight in 
Sacrifices and offerings, or whole burnt offerings 
and sin offerings, 
9 (offerings regularly made under the law), and then 
it is added, 
Lo, I come to do thy will, 
he does away with the first, in order that he may 
10 establish the second. And it is by this will that 
we have been sanctified by the offering of the body 
of Jesus Christ once for all. 


One Perfect Offering for Sin 


11 For while every priest stands, day after day, at 
his ministrations, and many times repeats the same 

12 sacrifices, which can never take away sins, this 
Priest, after offering one Sacrifice for sins, sat down 

13 forever on God’s right hand; henceforth waiting 
until his enemies be put as the footstool of his feet. 

14 For by one single offering he has perfected forever 
those whom he is sanctifying. 


Witness of the Holy Spirit 


15 And the Holy Spirit also gives his testimony, when 
| he said: 
(16 “This is the covenant I will make with them 
After those days,” says the Lord; 
“T will set my laws upon their hearts, 
And will inseribe them on their minds.” ? 

17 Then he adds, 


1Ps. 40 : 6-8. 2 Jer:"31 : 33, 34. 





609 


18 


19 
20 
21 
22 
23 


24 
25 


26 
27 
28 


29 


30 


HEBREWS 10 


And their sins and their iniquities will I remem- 
ber no more. 
But when these have been remitted, there is no more 
any offering for sin. 


Our Boldness of Access 

Since, then, we have a cheerful confidence, broth- 
ers, to enter into the Holiest by the blood of 
Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, that 
new and living way, through the veil (that is, his 
flesh) ; and since we have a great High Priest over 
the house of God; let us draw near with a true 
heart, in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled 
from an evil conscience, and our bodies bathed in 
pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our 
hope, unwavering (for He is faithful who prom- 
ised); and let us consider one another, to provoke 
unto love and good works; not forsaking the .as- 
sembling of ourselves together, as is the custom of 
some, but exhorting one another; all the more as 
you behold the Day drawing near. 


Fourth Warning: Of Wilful Sin 


For if we sin wilfully, after we have received the 
knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains any 
other sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expec- 
tation of judgment, and a fiery indignation which 
is about to devour the adversaries. Any one who 
set at naught the law of Moses was put to death 
without pity, on the testimony of two or three wit- 
nesses.. How much surer, think you, will be the 
punishment of one who has trodden under foot the 
Son of God, and has profaned that covenant blood 
with which he was sanctified, and has done despite 
to the spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, 

Vengeance is mine, I will repay; 
and again, 

The Lord will judge his people.* 

IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS 
OF THE LIVING GoD! 


Ss Deutiw3s2: 13h 4Deut. 32 : 36. 
610 


ee 


32 


33 


34 


35 


36 


7 


(oe 


4 


HEBREWS 11 


Be Bold, Be Patient, Be Stedfast 


But ever call to mind the former days, in which, 
after having been enlightened, you endured a great 
conflict of sufferings; partly by being made a public 
spectacle in reproaches and afflictions, and partly 
by sharing the fortunes of those that were so used. 
For you did sympathize with the prisoners, and 
you did take joyfully the confiscation of your goods; 
conscious that you had for yourselves greater, even 
lasting possessions. Now do not fling away your 
bold confidence, for it has a great recompense of 
reward. For you need stedfastness, so that after 
having done the will of God, you may receive the 
promise, 

For yet a very, very little while, and then 

The Coming One will have come, without delay. 

But it is by faith that my Righteous One will 

live, 

And if he draws back, my soul takes no pleasure 

in him.’ 
“ But we are not of defections unto perdition, but of 
faith unto the gaining of the soul.” ° 


B89, 26° 2120 -"Hab.2")3° 3, 4. 
6 Farrar’s translation. 


XI 
THE FULNESS OF FAITH 


Faith, an Experiment with the Unseen 

Now faith is the title-deed of things hoped for; 
the putting to the proof of things not seen. For by 
it men of old times had witness borne to them. By 
faith we understand that the world was fashioned 
by the Word of God, so that what we see was not 
made out of what is visible. 


Abel, the Sacrifice of Faith 


By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice more 
acceptable than that of Cain, through which he had 
witness borne to him that he was righteous, God 


611 


HEBREWS 11 


giving the testimony by accepting his gifts; and 
through it he, although he is dead, still speaks. 


Enoch: The Walk of Faith 


5 By faith Enoch was translated so that he should 
not see death; and he was not found, because God 
had translated him. Before his translation he had 

6 witness borne to him that he pleased God; now 
without faith it is impossible to please him; for he 
who comes to God must believe that he is, and that 
he ever rewards those who are seeking. 


Noah: The Work of Faith 


7 By faith Noah, warned of God of things not yet 
seen, reverently gave heed, and built an ark for the 
saving of his house; by which he condemned the 
world, and became an heir of the righteousness 
which is of faith. 


Abraham: The Obedience of Faith 4 


8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to 
go out unto a place which he was to receive for an 
inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither 

9 he went. It was by faith that he sojourned in the 
promised land as an alien, living in tents with Isaac 
and Jacob, his fellow heirs of the same promise. 

10 For he continually looked for the city which has 
foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 


Sarah: The Hope of Faith 


11 By faith even Sarah herself received power to 
conceive seed, although she was past the age for 
child-bearing, because she counted Him faithful who 


att. a, a a ee ee eee 


12 had promised; and thus there sprang from one man, 


and him practically dead, a nation like the stars 
in the heavens in multitude, or grains of sand upon 
the seashore, innumerable, 


Pilgrims and Strangers 


13 These.all died in faith, not having yet received 
the promises; nay, but they saw them from afar, 
and hailed them, and confessed that they were 


612 


14 
15 


16 


17 
18 


19 


20 
21 


22 


23 


24 
25 


HEBREWS 11 


strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who 
say such things make it plain that they are seek- 
ing a Fatherland. And if they had cherished the 
memory of that land from which they went out, 
they would have found an opportunity to return; 
but now they are longing for a better homeland, 
that is, a heavenly. Therefore God is not ashamed 
to be called their God; and he has prepared a city 
for them. 


The Heroism of Faith 


By faith Abraham, when he was put to the test, 
was on the point of offering up Isaac; yes, he who 
had received the promise was about to offer up his 
only son, of whom it had been said, 

It is through Isaac that your posterity will be 
traced." 

For he accounted God able even to raise from the 
dead, from whence, figuratively speaking, he did 
indeed receive him back again. 


The Vision of Faith 


By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even con- 
cerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he 
was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and wor- 
shiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 


The Journey of Faith 


By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made 
mention of the exodus of the children of Israel, and 
gave instructions in regard to his bones. 


The Decision of Faith 


By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three 
months by his parents, because they saw that he 
was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of 
the king’s decree. 

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused 
to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing 
rather to share ill-treatment with the people of 


1 Gen, (21) 12. 
613 


26 


27 
28 


29 


30 
31 


36 
37 


38 


39 


HEBREWS 11 


God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. 
He accounted the obloquy of Christ to be greater 
than the treasures of Egypt; for he fixed his eyes 
on the reward. 


The Pilgrimage of Faith 


By faith he left Egypt, not because he feared the 
wrath of the king, but he endured as seeing Him 
who is invisible. By faith he established the Pass- 
over, and the sprinkling with blood, in order that 
the Destroying Angel might not touch the firstborn. 

By faith the people crossed over the Red Sea as 
on dry land; and when the Egyptians tried to do 
this, they were swallowed up. 

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they 
had been encircled seven days. 

By faith Rahab, the harlot, perished not with the 
disobedient, because she had received the spies in 
peace. ; 


The Roll-call of the Faithful 


And what more shall I say? For time would fail 
me to tell of Gideon, of Barak, of Samson, and of 
Jeptha; of David and Samuel and the prophets, who 
through faith conquered kingdoms, wrought right- 
eousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of 
lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge 
of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, 
proved valiant in warfare, and routed armies of 
aliens. Woman received their dear ones alive from 
the dead; and others were broken on the wheel, 
not accepting the offered deliverance, in order that 
they might obtain a better resurrection. Others 
again bore trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, 
even of chains and imprisonment. They were 
stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, 
they were slain with the sword, they wandered about 
in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, perse- 
cuted, tormented—of whom the world was not 
worthy—wandering in deserts and mountains and 
caves and holes in the ground. 

Yet, though these all had witness borne to them 


614 


HEBREWS 12 


40 by their faith, they received not the promise; since 
it was for us that God had in store some better thing, 
so that apart from us they should not be perfected. 


XII 


RACING WITH ALL HEAVEN LOOKING ON 


The Crowded Circle of Spectators 


1 Seeing then that we are encircled with this great 
cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, 
and the sin that clings about us. Let us run with 

2 patience the race that is set before us, looking unto 
Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who 
for the joy that was set before him endured a cross, 
despising shame, and has now taken his seat at the 
right hand of the throne of God. 


Compare Our Sufferings With His 


3 Compare yourselves with him who endured such 
hostility against himself at the hands of sinners, 
4 lest you grow weary, fainting in your souls. Not 
yet have you resisted unto blood in your fight 
5 against sin; and have you forgotten the exhortation 
which reasons with you as sons? 
My son, do not despise the training of the Lord, 
Nor faint when he corrects you; 
6 For it is those whom he loves that he disciplines, 
And he scourges every son whom he acknowl- 
edges.’ 


The Sweetness of Discipline 


7 It is for discipline that you are enduring these 
sufferings. God is dealing with you as sons, For 
what: son is there whom his father does not dis- 

8 cipline? If you are left without discipline, in which 
all children share, then are you bastards and not 

9 sons. Furthermore, our earthly fathers used to 
discipline us, and we gave them reverence. Shall 


1Prov. 3: 11, 12. 
615 


10 


11 


12 
15 


14 


16 
17 


18 
19 


23 


HEBREWS 12 


we not much rather be in subjection to the Father 
of spirits, and live? For they only disciplined us 
for a few days, as seemed good to them; but he does 
it for our profit, that we may share his holiness. 
Now no discipline seems for the present to be joy- 
ous, but grievous; but afterward it yields the 
peaceable fruits of righteousness to those who have 
been trained under it. Wherefore lift up your list- 
less hands, strengthen your feeble knees; make 
straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame 
may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. 


Pursue Holiness 


Run swiftly after peace with all men, and holi- 
ness, without which no man shall see the Lord. 


» Look carefully that there be no one who falls back 


from the grace of God; that no root of bitterness 
springs up to trouble you, and by its means many 
become defiled. Take care lest there be any for- 
nicator or scorner like Esau. among you, who for 
one meal sold his birthright. For you know that 
even when he afterward desired to inherit the bless- 
ing, he was rejected; he found no room for repen- 
tance, though he sought it earnestly, with tears. 


Not to Sinai, but to Mt. Zion 

For you are not come to a palpable and enkindled 
fire, nor to gloom and darkness and tempest and 
the blare of a trumpet and an audible voice. Those 
who heard that voice entreated that no word more 
should be spoken to them. For they could not 
endure that which was enjoined, 

Even if a wild beast touches the mountain it shall 
be stoned to death; ’° 
and so terrible was the scene that Moses said, 

I exceedingly fear and tremble.* 
On the contrary you are come to Mount Zion, the 
city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to 
innumerable hosts of angels, to the festal assem- 
blage and church of the firstborn, registered in 


*Hrodsl Oise d 2913. 
$ Deut. 9 : 19. 


616 


24 


25 


26 


27 


28 


29 


HEBREWS 13 


heaven, to a Judge who is God of all, to the spirits 
of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of 
the New Covenant, and to his sprinkled Blood whose 
message cries louder than that of Abel. 


Fifth Warning: Not to Reject Jesus 


See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. 
For if they did not escape punishment when they 
refused to listen to their instructor on earth, much 
less shall we escape if we turn away from him 
who is teaching us from heaven; whose voice then 
shook the earth, but now he has promised, saying, 

Once again, once for all, I make not only earth, 
but heaven also to tremble.’ 

That phrase, “ Once again,” signifies the removal of 
the things which can be shaken, created things, in 
order that the things which cannot be shaken may 
remain. Wherefore since we are receiving a king- 
dom which is unshakable, let us give thanks, and 
so offer acceptable worship to God, with holy awe 
and fear, 

FOR INDEED OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE. 


4 Hag. 2.:)6. 
XIII 
“OF LOVE AND GOOD WORKS” 
Be Brotherly in All Relations 


1,2 Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to 


3 


4 


5 


show hospitality; for by it some have even enter- 
tained angels unawares. Remember those who are 
in prison, as if you were fellow prisoners; remem- 
ber too, those who are being ill-treated, since you 
too, are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor 
by all, and the marriage bed be undefiled; for for- 
nicators and adulterers will God judge. 


Be Trustful 


Let your life be untainted by love of money; be 
content with such things as you have; for God him- 
self has said, 


617 


6 


7 


8 


10 
1 


pwd 


12 


13 
14 


15 
16 


17 


HEBREWS 13 


I will never leave thee; I will never forsake thee 
So that we can say with confidence, 

The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. 

What can man do to me? * 


Pray for Your Leaders 


Remember your leaders, the men who spoke the 
message of God to you; consider the issue of their 
lives, and imitate their faith. 


Followers of the Stable Christ Must Be Stable 


Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and 
forever. Do not allow yourselves to be swept away 
by various and strange teachings. For it is a beau- 
tiful thing to be established in heart by grace, and 
not by regulations regarding food, from which those 
that occupied themselves with them have derived no 
benefit. 


Let Us Go Forth Without the Camp 


We Christians have an altar from which those 
have no right to eat who minister in the Tabernacle. 
For the bodies of the animals whose blood is carried 
by the High Priest into the Holy Place are burned 
outside the camp, and so Jesus suffered outside the 
gate in order to sanctify the people by his own 
blood. Let us then go forth to him outside the 
camp, bearing his reproach. For we have not here 
an abiding city, but we are earnestly seeking the 
city that is to be. 


Acceptable Sacrifices 

In his name, then, let us continually offer up a 
sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of lips 
that confess his name. And forget not to be kind 
and liberal; for with that sort of sacrifice God is 
well pleased. 


Obey Your Leaders 


Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they 
are keeping watch over your souls, as those who 


QY 


AOS) be 21 Se en Ge 
618 


HEBREWS 18 


must give account; that they may do thus with joy 
and not with lamentation, for this would be unprofit- 
able to you. 


Pray for Me 
18 Keep on praying for me. I am persuaded that I 
have a clear conscience, and I desire in every way 
19 to live nobly. I the more earnestly ask for your 
prayers, that I may be the more speedily restored 
to you. 


Benediction 

20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the 
dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the 

21 sheep, by the blood of an eternal covenant, equip 
you in every good deed for the doing of his will, 
doing in you what is well-pleasing in his sight, 
through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory unto the 
ages of the ages! Amen! 


Postscript 
22 But I entreat you, brothers, bear with my word 
of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 
23 You know that our brother Timothy has been set 
free. If he comes soon, I will see him with you. 


Salutations 


24 Salute all your leaders and the saints. 
The brothers from Italy send you greeting. 
25 Grace be with you all, Amen. 


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THE LETTER 
OF 


JAMES 





Date: 


Author: 


Characteristics: 


The Letter of James is perhaps the 
first book of the New Testament to 
have been written. It was written 
probably at Jerusalem, about A. D. 
44, 


The writer was the brother of Jesus, 
not the apostle of the same name. 
He was pastor of the church in 
Jerusalem. (Acts 15.) 


The indications in the letter point to 
days of persecution, which may 
have been that of Herod Agrippa I, 
in which James the brother of John 
perished. (Acts 12.) 

The letter is filled with the atmosphere 
of its Jewish background. Moulton 
calls it a bit of New Testament 
** Wisdom Literature.” 


1 


2 
3 


4 


JAMES 


I 
REAL RELIGION IN PRACTISE 


Greeting 


James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus 
Christ, sends greeting to the twelve tribes that are 
scattered abroad. 


Let Patience Have Its Perfect Work 


My brothers, when you are beset by various temp- 
tations, count it all joy, because you know that the 
testing of your faith is working out endurance. 
But let endurance have its perfect work, so that 
you may be perfect and entire, not lacking in any- 
thing. 


“ Take It to the Lord in Prayer ” 


If any one of you is lacking in hae Rt let him 
ask it from the God who gives to all men freely 
and without upbraiding; and it will be given to 
him. But let him ask in faith, without wavering; 
for he who wavers is like a surge of the sea, wind- 
driven and tossed. Such a man need not suppose 
that he will receive anything from the Lord, 
double-minded as he is, unstable at every turn. 


Poverty and Riches 


Let a brother in humble circumstances glory in 
his exaltation; but a rich brother, in his humiliation ; 
because like the flower of the grass the rich man 
will pass away. For as the sun comes up with a 
burning heat, it withers the grass, and its flowers 


623 


12 


13 


14 
15 


16, 


JAMES 1 


fall, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes; so 
also shall the rich man fade away amid his pursuits. 


The Uses of Temptation 


Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for 
when he has stood the test he will receive the crown 
of life which the Lord has promised to those who 
love him. When he is being tempted, let no one say, 

“It is God who tempts me,” 
for God cannot be tempted with evil, nor does he 
tempt any man. But each man is tempted by his 
own lusts that allure and entice him. Then lust 
conceives and gives birth to sin; and sin, when it 
is mature, brings forth death. 


All Good Gifts from God 


17 Do not be deceived, my brothers! Every good 
gift and every perfect boon is from above, and is 
ever coming down to us from the Father of the 
heavenly lights, with whom is no variation nor 


18 shadow of eclipse. Because he willed, he gave us 


birth through the word of truth, so that we should 


19 be a kind of first-fruits among his creatures. Mark 


20 
21 


22 


23 


this well, my dear brothers. 


Be Slow to Anger 


Let every man be swift in hearing, slow in speak- 
ing, slow in growing angry; for a man’s anger does 
not further the righteous purpose of God. So strip 
off all filthiness and superfluity of wickedness, and 
in meekness receive the implanted Word, which is 
able to save your souls. 


Doers, Not Hearers 


And become doers of the Word, and not merely 
hearers, deceiving yourselves. Because if any one 


is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a 
man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 
24 for after he has looked carefully at himself, he 
goes away, and at once forgets what he is like. — 
25 But the man who looks closely into the perfect 


law—the law of liberty—and continues looking, this 


624 


: 
. 


8 


JAMES 2 


man will be blessed in his deed because he is not a 
hearer who torgets, but a doer who does. 


What Real Religion Is 


If a man thinks himself to be religious, and yet 
does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own 
heart, that man’s religion is empty. This is pure 
religion, and undefiled before our God and Father, 
to look after orphans and widows in their affliction, 
and ever to keep himself unspotted from the world. 


II 
WARNINGS ON FAITH AND WORKS 


Despising the Poor 


My brothers, do not hold the faith of the Lord 
Jesus, the Lord of Glory, in a spirit of caste. Sup- 
pose a man comes into your synagogue with a gold 
ring and dazzling clothes, and suppose a poor man 
comes in, also, in shabby clothes, and you look up 
to him who wears the fine clothing, and say to him, 

“Sit here in this fine place! ” 
and to the poor man you say, 

“ Stand there! ” 
or, 

“Sit on the floor at my feet! ” 
are you not drawing distinctions among yourselves, 
and have you not become judges with evil thoughts? 
Listen, my dear brothers, has not God chosen the 
poor of this world to be rich in faith, and to inherit 
the kingdom which he has promised to those who 
love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. 
Do not the rich oppress you and drag you to court? 
Are they not blaspheming that glorious Name by 
which you are called? 


The Royal Law 


If you are keeping the royal law, which says, 
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thou dost thyself,’ 


1Lev. 19 : 18. 
625 


15 
16 


17 
18 


JAMES 2 


you are doing well. If you have the spirit of castel 


you are committing sin, and are convicted by the 


Law as transgressors. For if a man keeps the 


whole of the Law, and yet stumbles in one point, 


he is become guilty of all. For he who said, Do not 
commit adultery, said also, Do not kill.2 Now if 
you do not commit adultery, but if you do kill, you 


have transgressed the Law. So speak and act like 
men who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 


For judgment is without mercy to the man who has | 


showed no mercy: but mercy glories in the face of 


judgment. 


On Faith and Works 


My brothers, what good is it if any one says that 


he has faith, if he has no deeds? Can such faith 
save him? If a brother or sister be naked and in 
need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 


“Depart in peace, find warmth and food for : 


yourselves,” 


but at the same time you do not give the neces- © 
saries of the body, what good would that do them? ‘| 
In just the same way faith, if it have not deeds, is 


by itself a lifeless thing. Some one indeed may say, 
“You have faith, and I have deeds.” 


“Then show me your faith,” I answer, “apart 
from any deeds, and I will show you my faith by — 


my deeds.” 


Faith and Works Cooperate in the Developed Life 


You believe that God is one? You do well; even 
the demons believe, and they shudder. But do you 


want to be convinced, O foolish man, that faith — 


apart from deeds is barren? Was not Abraham our 


ancestor justified by deeds, in that he offered up — 
Isaac, his son, upon the altar? You see how faith 


was cooperating with deeds, and faith was made 


perfect by deeds. And the Scripture was fulfilled — 


which said, 
And Abraham believed God, and this was imputed 


4 Exod. 20 : 13, 14; Deut. 5 : 17, 18. 
626 


BC 


pe. 


10 





JAMES 38 


to him as righteousness, and he was called God's 
friend.* 

You see, then, that it is by his deeds a man is 
justified, and not simply by his faith. In like man- 
ner was not Rahab, the harlot, justified by her deeds, 
in the fact that she received the messengers and 
sent them forth by another way? So just as the 
body without a spirit is dead, so faith is dead with- 
out deeds. 


$Gen, 15 : 6. 


III 
ON CONTROL OF THE TONGUE 


On Controlling Our Tongues 


Do not become many teachers, my brothers, be- 
cause you know well that we teachers shall be 
judged by a severer standard than others. For in 
many respects we often stumble. If any man never 
stumbles in speech, the same is a perfect man, able 
to bridle the whole body as well. When we put bits 
in the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we 
control their whole body also. Look at the ships 
too, though they are so large, even when driven by 
fierce winds they are turned by a very small rudder, 
wherever the impulse of the helmsman wills. So 
also the tongue is a small member and makes great 
boasts. Behold, how great a forest is set on fire by 
a little spark! And the tongue is a fire; it is a 
very world of iniquity among our members, defiling 
the whole body, and .setting on fire the wheel of 
nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For while 
every kind of beast and bird, and of reptiles and sea- 
creatures are tamable, and actually have been tamed 
by mankind, no man can tame the tongue, restless 
evil that it is, full of deadly poison. With it we 
continually bless our Lord and Father, and with it 
we are accustomed to curse men made in the image 
of God. From out of the same mouth pour forth 
blessings and cursings! My brothers, this ought 


627 



























JAMES 4 


11 not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the 
12 same opening sweet water and bitter? Can a fig 
tree, my brothers, bear olives; or a grape-vine, 
figs? No more can salt water yield fresh water. 


Earthly and Divine Wisdom Contrasted 


13. Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him 
show his deeds by his good life, in the meekness of 
14 wisdom. But if you have bitter j ealousy and faction 
in your heart, do not be boasting of that, and be 
15 false to the truth. Such wisdom is not that which 
is descending from on high, but is earthly, sensual, 
16 demonlike. For wherever jealousy and faction 
17 exist, there is confusion and every evil deed. But 
the wisdom which comes from on high is first pure, 
then peaceable, gentle, conciliatory, overflowing with 
mercy and good fruits, without partiality and with- 
18 out insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is_ 
being sown in peace by those who are working peace. 


IV 


AGAINST PARTY STRIFE AND 
PRESUMPTION 


Friendship With the World Means Enmity to God 


1 Where do the conflicts and quarrels that go on 
among you come from? Do they not come from. 
your passions which are always making war among. 
your bodily members? You continually crave and 
do not obtain; you are killing and coveting and 
cannot acquire; you are fighting and at war. You 
do not have, because you do not ask. You continue 
to ask and do not receive, because you are asking 
with a wrong purpose, in order to spend it upon 
4 your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know 

that the friendship of the world is enmity to God? 

Whoever, then, desires to be a friend of the world, 
5 makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you. sup-_ 

pose that it is in vain that the Scripture says, “ The 

spirit which has its home in us yearns over us unto 


628 


bo 


a) 


JAMES 4 


6 jealousy?” But he gives more and more grace: 
therefore it is said, 
God ever resists the proud; but to the humble 
he gives grace continually.* 
7 So then ever be subject to God, 
Ever resist the devil and he will flee from you. 
8 Draw near to God 
And he will draw near to you. 
Cleanse your hands, you sinners, 
And purify your hearts, you double-minded. 
9 Lament and mourn, and weep aloud! 
Let your laughter be turned into mourning, 
And your joy into gloom! 
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, 
And he will raise you up. 


Judge Not 

11 Do not be talking against each other, brothers. 
He who is talking against a brother and condemning 
his brothers is talking against the Law and con- 
demning the Law. But if you are condemning the 
Law, you are not a doer of the Law, but a judge. 

12 But One is your Lawgiver and Judge—he who is 
able to save and to destroy. But you, who are you, 
to be condemning your neighbor? 


The Solemn Uncertainty of Life 

13. Go to now, you who say, 

“Today or tomorrow we shall journey to such 
a city and spend a year there, and trade and make 
money,” 

14 when all the time you do not know what will happen 
on the morrow. For what is your life? You are 
but a mist, appearing for a brief time, and then 

15 vanishing. You ought instead to say, 

“Tf the Lord wills it, we shall live and do this 
or that.” 

16 But now you are glorying in these insolent boastings 

17 of yours; all such glorying is evil. So to him who 
knows how to do right and does not do it, to him 
it is sin. 
| & Prov. <3): 34. 

629 





1 


2 


3 


10 


11 


12 


JAMES 5 


Vv 


ON SOCIAL JUSTICE AND CHRISTIAN 
LIVING 


A Fearful Expectation of Coming Judgment 


Go to now, you rich men! Weep aloud, howl for 
the miseries which are about to come upon you! 
For your riches lie rotting, and your clothing has 
become moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are 
rusted; and their rust will be for a testimony 
against you, and it will eat your flesh. For you 
have been storing up fire in these last days! Look! 
the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, 
which you have been keeping back by fraud, are 
crying aloud! And the cries of the reapers have 
entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth! You 
have lived luxuriously on earth, you have taken 
your pleasure, you have fattened your hearts for 
a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have 
murdered the righteous man unresisting! 


Be Patient: Wait for Him 


Be patient, then, brothers, till the coming of the 
Lord. Behold the farmer who waits for the precious 
fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it 
gets the early and the latter rains. So you also 
must be patient. Stablish your hearts; for the com- 
ing of the Lord is at hand! Do not make com- 
plaints against each other, brothers, lest you your- 
selves be condemned. Behold the Judge is standing 
before the very door! Take, my brothers, for an 
example the suffering and the patience of the 
prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Re- 
member we count those that were stedfast happy. 
You have heard of the stedfastness of Job, and 
have seen the end of the Lord with him, seen how 
the Lord is full of tenderness. 


Against Oaths 


Again, above all things, my brothers, swear not 
at all, neither by the heavens, nor by the earth, nor 


630 





13 


JAMES 5 


by any other oath. Let your “yes” be “yes,” and 
your “no,” “no,” so you will not fall under con- 
demnation. 


Prayer Is a Force 
Is any one of you in trouble? Let him pray. Is 


14 any in good spirits? Let him sing unto his harp. Is 


15 


18 


19 
20 


any one of you ill? Let him send for the elders of 
the church, and let them pray over him, after anoint- 
ing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the 
prayer of faith will restore the sick, and the Lord 
will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, 
it will be forgiven him. So confess your sins one 
to another, and pray for one another, that you may 
be healed. For the fervent prayer of a righteous 
man is mighty in its working.’ Elijah was a man 
of like passions with us, and he prayed fervently 
that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the 
earth for three years and six months. Then he 
prayed again, and the sky gave rain, and the earth 
brought forth her fruit. 


The Blessedness of Soul-winning 

My brothers, if any one of you strays from the 
truth, and some one brings him back, let him know 
that he who brings a sinner back from the error 
of his ways, saves his soul from death, and hides a 
multitude of sins. 


1 This has been translated, ‘‘ The glowing, competent prayer 
of a man of character has great dynamic.”’ 


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PETER’S FIRST LETTER 


Date: Probably between 65 and 68 A. D., at the 
time when terrible persecutions against the 
Christians broke out. | 


Writer: The Apostle Peter, writing from “ Babylon.” 
This may be a name used for Rome at a 
time when it might have been dangerous | 
to use the real name. (Rev. 14: 8.) 


Purpose: To comfort and steady the church under 
terrible persecution, and to set forth the 
true ideals of Christian living. 





1 


On 


6 
7 


I. PETER 


I 
THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF THE GRACE 
OF GOD 
Salutation 
Peter, an apostle? of Jesus Christ, to the elect 


who are sojourners of the dispersion in Pontus, 
Galatia, Cappadocia, Roman Asia, and Bithynia, 
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, 
in the sanctification of the spirit, unto obedience 
and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: 

Grace and peace be multiplied to you. 


Thanksgiving 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, by whose great mercy we have been born 
anew into a living hope, through the resurrection 
of Jesus Christ from the dead; and into an inheri- 
tance imperishable and undefiled and fadeless, which 
has been kept in heaven for you who, through faith, 
are continuously guarded by the power of God for 
a salvation, ready to be revealed in the last days. 


Rejoicing in Tribulation 
Exult in this, though now for a brief moment, if 
need be, you have suffered many hardships. These 
are in order that the test of your faith, more pre- 
cious than gold that is perishable and yet is tested 
by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor, 
1 This might be translated ‘‘ a missionary,’’ since missionary 


and apostle mean the same thing. The word apostle is 
Greek, the word missionary is Latin. 


635 


8 


ito) 


10 
1 


_ 


12 


13 
14 


15 
16 


uty 


18 


IPE E Re 


at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Him you love, 
though you have never seen him; in him you ever 
believe, though even now you see him not, and you 
are rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of 
glory, as you continually receive the reward of your 
faith, even the salvation of your souls. 


Prophets and Angels Long to Understand the Mysteries 
of Faith 


Concerning this salvation the Prophets who 
prophesied regarding the grace intended for you, 
diligently sought and searched. They were search- 
ing to know to what time, or to what manner of 
time the Spirit of Christ which was in them kept 
pointing, when he ever testified beforehand con- 
cerning the sufferings of Christ and the glories that 
would follow. It was revealed to them that it was 
not for themselves, but for you, that they were min- 
istering the truths which have now been announced 
to you, by those who preached the gospel to you, 
through the help of the Holy Spirit sent forth from 
heaven—truths into which angels long to look. 


Then Live Lives Worthy of the Gospel 


So then brace up your minds, be steady in spirit, 
and fix your hope firmly in the grace that is coming 
to you, at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Like 
obedient children, do not fashion yourselves accord- 
ing to the former passions of your days of igno- 
rance, but become yourselves holy in your whole 
manner of living, as He who has called you is 
holy, as the Scripture says, 

You shall be holy, because I am holy. 

And since you call upon him as Father, who im- 
partially judges each one according to his deeds, 
pass the time of your sojourning here in reverence. — 


For You Were Bought with a Price 


For you well know that not with perishable 
things, with silver or gold, were you redeemed from 
the emptiness of your manner of life, received by 


Leve 1159 442519 22 
636 


I, PETER 2 


19 tradition from your ancestors; but with precious 
blood, like that of a lamb without spot or blemish, 

20 even the blood of Christ. He was indeed foreknown 
before the foundation of the world, but was mani- 
fested at the end of the times for your sake. 

21 Through him you believe in God who raised him 
from the dead and gave him glory; so that your 
faith and hope are now in God. 


Wherefore Love One Another 


22. Now that by obedience to the truth you have 
purified your lives for a brotherly love without 
hypocrisy, you must love one another from your 

23 hearts, fervently. For you have been born anew, 
not of perishable, but of imperishable seed, by the 

24 living, lasting word of God. For, 

All flesh is grass 
And all its glory like the flower of the grass. 
The grass fades, 
The flower falls, 

25 But the word of the Lord abides forever’ 

And this is the word of the gospel which has been 
told to you. 


2TIsa. 40 : 6-8. 


Il 


THE CHRISTIAN WAY OF LIFE 


The Food of the New Life 
1 Therefore put away all malice, all deceit, insin- 
2 cerity, jealousy, and slander of every sort. Like 
new-born babes long for the pure spiritual milk to 
8 make you grow up into salvation; since you have 
tasted that the Lord is gracious. 


The Foundation of the New Life 
4 Come to him then, that living Stone, rejected 
indeed by men, but chosen by God, and precious. 
5 And yourselves like living stones be built into a 
spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood offering 


637 


9 


10 


11 


Le? 


13 
14 
15 


I. PETER 2 


spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God, through 
Christ Jesus. For, as Scripture says: 
Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone, elect, 
precious, 
And he who believes on Him shall never be put to 
_ shame. 
For you, then, that believe, is the preciousness ; but 
for those who do not believe, 
A stone which the builders rejected, 
The same has become the head stone of the 
corner,’ of 
and, 
A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense? 
They stumble over it because they are disobeying 
God’s word, and to this they were also appointed. 


You Are the True Israel 


But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a 
holy nation, a purchased people,’ that you may 
show forth the virtues of Him who has called you 
out of darkness into his marvelous light—you who 
once were not a people, but now are the people of 
God; who were once without mercy, but now you 
have found mercy. z 


Two Natures Struggling Within { 


I beseech you, beloved, as pilgrims and exiles, to 
abstain from passions of the flesh that war upon 
your souls. Let your manner of life before thell 
Gentiles be honest; so that, although they are now. 
slandering you as evil-doers, they may, by beholding 


your noble conduct, come to glorify God, in the day 


of visitation. 
Obedience to Constituted Authority { 

Submit yourselves, for the Lord’s sake, to every 
human authority; whether it be to the Emperor as" 
supreme ruler, or to governors as sent by him for 
the punishment of evil-doers and for the encourage- 


ment of well-doers. For it is the will of God that 
11989. 28 16. Casares. 4s 
2Ps. 118: 22. “Deut, 4 : 20. 


628 


16 


17 


18 
ie 


20 


21 


22 
23 
24 


25 


1 


I. PETER 3 


by well-doing you should silence the ignorant talk 
of foolish men. Live lke free men; and yet do not 
make your freedom a cloak for misconduct, but be 
the slaves of God. Honor all men. Love the 
brotherhood. Reverence God. Honor the Emperor. 


Slaves May Illustrate the Gospel 


Household slaves, submit yourselves to your 
masters in all reverence; not only to the kind and 
gentle, but also to the unreasonable. For it is an 
acceptable thing to God, if from a sense of duty to 
him, a man endures a wrong, even suffering un- 
justly. For what credit is it if, when you are 
struck for a fault, you take it patiently? But if 
when you are doing well and suffer for it, you 
always take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 


Called to Be Like Christ 


For this is your calling; because Christ also 
suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that 
you should follow in his footsteps; 

He committed no sin, 

Neither was guile found in his mouth.’ 

He was reviled, and reviled not back. When he suf- 
fered he never threatened but always committed 
his cause to the One who judges rightly. He bore 
our sins in his own body upon the tree, in order 
that we might become dead to sins, and be alive 
unto righteousness. By his wounds you have been 
healed. For you were straying like lost sheep, but 
you are now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian 
of your souls. 


Sisa. Do 2 93s 


LIT 
THE GOSPEL IN FAMILY RELATIONS 


A Wife’s Best Ornament 

In the same way you wives must be submissive to 
your own husbands; so that if some of them will 
not believe the message, they may apart from the 
message be won over by the behavior of their 


639 


I. PETER 8 


2 wives, when they see how pure and reverent you are. 
3 Your adornment ought not to be the outward adorn- 


ment of plaited hair and golden jewels and the 


4 wearing of beautiful dresses; but rather that hidden 


personality of the heart, the imperishable ornament 
of a quiet and gentle spirit, which in the sight of 
© God is indeed precious. For in this way in the 
olden time the holy women also, who put their trust 
in God, used to adorn themselves. They were ever 
6 in submission to their own husbands; thus, for 
example, Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. 
And you are daughters of Sarah, if you do what 
is right, and permit nothing to make you afraid. 


A Husband’s Duty 


7 In the same way you husbands live with your 
wives, according to knowledge, honoring your wife 
as of the weaker sex, yet as an heir with yourself of 


the grace of life; so that your prayers may not be 


hindered. 


Duties of All Christians 


8 Finally, you should all be harmonious, sym- 
pathetic, loving as brothers, tender-hearted, humble- 


\ 


2 minded; not paying back evil for evil or abuse for 
abuse, but on the contrary giving a blessing. Be-— 
cause for this you have been called—to inherit a 


blessing. 

10 He who would love life and enjoy happy days, 
Let him keep his tongue from evil, 

And his lips from speaking guile; 

11 = Let him turn from evil and do good, 

Let him seek peace, and pursue it. 

12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, 
And his ears are open to their cry; 


But the face of the Lord is set against evil-doers. — 


Consecrate Christ in Your Hearts 


13 Yet who will harm you if you become zealous for } 
14 the good? But even if you should suffer in behalf. 


of righteousness, you are happy. 
UUs O48 thle. 
640 


15 


22 


1 


I. PETER 4 


Do not be afraid of their terror, neither be 
troubled.’ 
But consecrate Christ in your hearts, as Lord. Be 
always in readiness to make an answer to any one 
who asks you a reason for the hope that is within 
you, yet with gentleness and reverence. See that 
you have a clear conscience, so that, although they 
speak of you as evil-doers, these libelers of your 
good Christian lives may be ashamed. 


Christ’s Example of Suffering 


For it is better that you suffer for doing right, 
if such be God’s will, than for doing wrong; be- 
cause Christ also once for all suffered for sins, 
the just for the unjust, that he might bring us ta 
God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made 
alive in spirit. (It was in spirit that he went and 
preached the Word to the spirits who were in prison, 
who in old times had been disobedient, when God’s 
longsuffering was waiting in the days of Noah, 
while an ark was building, in which a few persons— 
eight in number—were saved by water.) Baptism, 
the counterpart of that, now saves you (not the 
washing off of the filth of the flesh, but the prayer 
for a good conscience toward God), through the 
resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is gone into 
heaven, and is on the right hand of God; to Him 
angels and authorities and powers have been made 
subject. 


27590.. & 348. 
IV 


VICTORIOUS LIVING IN THE POWER OF 
CHRIST 


Christ Inspires to Fortitude and Purity 

Since, then, Christ suffered in the flesh, do you 
also ever arm yourselves with the same mind (be- 
cause he who has suffered in the flesh has done 
with sin), so that in future you may not spend 
your life in the flesh according to men’s desires, but 


641 


I. PETER 4 
. 
3 in the will of God. For the time past of life may 
suffice us to have worked the will of the Gentiles, 
when we spent our life in lasciviousness, lusts, hard 
drinking, revelry, banqueting, and abominable idol- 
4 worship. They are astonished at this, that you do 
not run into the same excesses of profligacy as they 
do; and they speak evil of you. But they must 
render account to Him who stands ready to judge 
the living and the dead. The gospel was preached 
for this cause to those who were dead also, that 
they might be judged according to men in fiesh, 
but live according to God in spirit. : 


Live as if the End Were at Hand 


: 
But the end of all things is close at hand; so be 

sober, watch and pray. Above everything have 
fervent love to one another; for love veils a multi-_ 
tude of sins. Be hospitable to one another, without 
10 grudging. Whatever the gifts which each has re-_ 
ceived, use them for one another, as good stewards 
11 of the manifold grace of God. If any one preaches, | 
let him always preach as one who utters God’s— 
truth; if any one serves another, let it be with the 
strength which God supplies; so that in every way 
God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom | 
be glory and dominion for ever and ever, ‘Annee j 


On 


SS 


oo =] 





© 










It Is Glorious to Suffer for Christ 


12 Do not think it strange, beloved, that a fiery 
ordeal has come to test you, as though some sur- 
18 prising thing had befallen you. But be glad in 
the degree in which you share in the sufferings of 
Christ; so that when his glory shall be revealed, 
14 you too may be glad with triumphant gladness. If 
you are being reproached for the name of Christ, 
you are blessed, for the spirit of glory and of God 
15 is resting upon you. But let none of you suffer 
as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or s 
16 asa spy upon other people’s business. But if any — 
man is suffering as a Christian, let him not be 
ashamed; but let him ever glorify God j in this Name. — 
17 It is time for judgment to begin with the household _ 


642 


: 
| 


it 


5 


8 


4] 


1. PETER 5 


of God; and if it first begin with us, what shall be 
the end of those who are disobedient to the gospel? 
If the righteous man is scarcely saved, where shall 
the ungodly and the sinner appear? So let those 
who are suffering according to the will of God com- 
mit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, 
as unto a faithful Creator. 


V 
EXHORTATIONS 


Directions to Elders 


Now to you who are presbyters I make this ap- 
peal; for I am myself a presbyter, and was a wit- 
ness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker 
of the glory about to be revealed. Be shepherds to 
your flock of God; take charge of them willingly, and 
not through compulsion; not for filthy lucre, but 
with a willing mind; not by way of lording it over 
your heritage, but by becoming examples to the flock. 
Then, when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you 
too will receive the fadeless wreath of glory. 


Young Men Are Counseled Humility 


You younger men must submit to the presbyters; 
and all of you must put on the garment of humility 
and serve one another, for 

God resists the haughty, 

But gives grace to the humble.’ 
So humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand, so 
that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your 
care upon him, for he ever cares for you. 


Endure Hardness 

Be temperate, be vigilant; because your enemy, 
the devil, is prowling about like a roaring lion, 
seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, standing 
firm in the faith, knowing well that the same af- 
flictions are being accomplished in your brothers 


1Isa. 57 : 15. 
643 


I. PETER 5 


10 that are in the world. But the God of. all grace, 
who has called us by Christ Jesus to share his eter- 
nal glory, will, after you have suffered a while, 
make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 

11 His is the dominion forever and ever; Amen. 


Greetings 

12 By Sylvanus, a faithful brother of yours, as I 
suppose, I have written you briefly, to comfort you, 
and to testify that this is the true grace of God. 
In this stand fast. 

13 Your sister church in Babylon, elect with you, 
sends you salutations, and so does Marcus, my son. 

14 Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be 
to you all who are in Christ Jesus. 


644 


PETER’S SECOND LETTER 


Date: Date and place of writing uncertain. 
Authenticity: The last book of the New Testament to 


win recognition. The evidence for it» 


in the first three centuries is slight 


and scattered. Origen and Eusebius — 
question its genuineness, It was only : 


after long struggle that it became ac- 
cepted as a part of Scripture. 
One passage in it, 2 Peter 2: 1-19, pre- 


ith ¥ 


sents a very close resemblance to Jude > 


3-16. 


Character: A warning against false teachers who 


combined libertinism with scepticism — 


about the second coming. 


1 


3 


10 


11 


IJ. PETER 


I 
BUILD ON THE SURE FOUNDATION 


Salutation 


Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, 
to those who have obtained an equally precious 
faith with us in the righteousness of our God and 
Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multi- 


plied to you by the God and Father of Jesus our 
Lord. 


Privilege of Christian Life 


For his power divine has granted to us every- 
thing needful for life and godliness, through the 
knowledge of him who called us by his own glory 
and virtue. By these he has granted his promises 
to us, precious and splendid; so that through them 
you may become partners of the divine nature, now 
that you have escaped the corruption that is in the 
world through lust. 


Orchestrate Your Virtues 


For this very reason do your best to add to your 
faith manliness, and to manliness knowledge, and 
to knowledge self-control, and to self-control sted- 
fastness, and to stedfastness piety, and to piety 
brotherly love, and to brotherly love, love itself. 
For if these virtues are yours in abounding measure, 
they render you not idle nor unfruitful, until you 
come into the full knowledge of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. For the man who lacks these virtues is 
blind,. short-sighted, forgetful of his cleansing from 
his old sins. So, brothers, take diligent care to make 
your calling and election sure; for if you do this, 
you will never stumble. For so the entrance into 
the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ will be richly supplied to you. 


647 


12 


Il sPEPTeR ee 


Memories of the Transfiguration 


of all this, even though you know it, and are firmly 


x 
‘ 


I shall therefore be always ready to remind you — 






ll 
a 


13 founded in the truth which is with you. So I think — 


14 
15 


16 


17 


18 


19 


20 
21 


1 


2 


it right, as long as I am in this “ tent,”’ to rouse 
you by way of reminding you, since I know that the 
time for me to strike tent comes swiftly on, even 
as our Lord Jesus Christ pointed out to me. So I 
will do my best to enable you, even after my de- 
parture, continually to call these things to mind. 
For we were not following cunningly devised fables, 
when we told you of the power and presence of 


our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eye-wit-— 


nesses of his Majesty. For he did receive honor 
and glory from God the Father, when there was 
borne such a voice to him from the Majestic Glory, 


Phas is my Son, my Beloved, in whom I delight;* 


ee 


y 


; 


cee 


Ee tala ath es 


and this voice we ourselves heard, borne to us out a 
of heaven, when we were with him on the holy hill. — 
And so we possess the word of prophecy made yet 
more sure. Unto this you do well to give heed as _ 
to a lamp shining in a dark place, till the day dawns — 


and the morning star rises in your hearts. But 


first be assured of this—that no prophecy of Scrip- 


| 


4S 


ture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy 
was ever brought by the will of man; but moved by | 


the Holy Spirit, men spoke for God. 
Matt. 17": 5: 


II 


WARNINGS AGAINST SEPARATING 
CHRISTIANITY AND ETHICS 


False and Licentious Teachers 


But there were false prophets, too, among the if 
people, just as among you also there will be false — 
teachers. These will secretly bring in destructive f: 


sects, denying even the Master who bought them, 
and bringing swift ruin upon. themselves. Then 


there will be many who will follow their immorality, — 


648 


| 





| 





10 
pet 
iL? 


18 


Il. PETER 2 


because of whom the Way of the Truth will be 
maligned. In their covetousness, with cunning 
words, they will make merchandise of you; those 
whose doom has not been idle from of old, and whose 
destruction has not been slumbering. 


The Goodness and Severity of God 


- For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, 
but cast them down to Tartarus, and committed 
them to chains of darkness, and reserved them for 
judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, 
but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with 
seven others, when he brought a flood upon an un- 
godly world; if he condemned the cities of Sodom 
and Gomorrah and reduced them to ashes, thus 
holding them up as a warning to all who would live 
ungodly; and if he delivered righteous Lot who was 
worn out by the lascivious life of the wicked (for 
that righteous man, living among them, tormented 
his righteous soul in seeing and hearing, day after 
day, their lawless deeds), then be sure that the 
Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of tempta- 
tion, and to keep the wicked (who are even now 
enduring punishment) for the “ Day of Judgment ”’; 
especially those who spend their lives following the 
flesh in the lust of defilement, and in despising all 
authority. 


A Portrait of Lives Lived Unto the Flesh 


Audacious and wilful, they feel no awe in railing 
against dignities; even where angels, though sur- 
passing them in strength and might, do not bring a 
railing judgment against them before the Lord. 
But these men, like irrational creatures, mere ani- 
mals, born to be taken and destroyed, continually 
rail about matters of which they know nothing. In 
their corruption they will surely be destroyed, suf- 
fering wrong as the wage of wrong which they have 
done. These are men who count it pleasure to 
carouse in open daylight; they are spots and blem- 
ishes reveling in their deceit, even while they are 


14 feasting with you. They have eyes full of harlots, 


649 


15 They have forsaken the right way; they have lost 


Il, PETER 3 






eyes that cannot stop sinning. They entice un- 
steady souls. Their heart is trained in greed. They 
are an accursed generation. 


Following the Way of Balaam : 


their way, and followed the road of Balaam, the 
son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrong-doing. 


16 He was, however, rebuked for his own transgres- 


17 


18 


19 


20 


21 


22 


L 


sion; a dumb ass spoke with a man’s voice, and 
stopped the madness of the’ prophet. Such men are : 
like waterless springs, or mists storm-driven ; for 
them the blackness of darkness has been reserved. 
For speaking great swelling words of vanity, they 
entangle, by their lasciviousnegs, in the lusts of the ] 
flesh, those who are just about to escape from the 
men that live in misconduct. They promise them 
liberty, while they themselves are slaves of rotten- i 
ness! (For indeed a man is the slave of anythingg 
which, masters him.) For if, after having escaped — 
the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge © 
of our Lord and. Saviour Jesus Christ, men are 
again entangled in them and overpowered, their ee 
state is become worse than their first. Indeed it 
would have been better for them not to have known 
the Way of Righteousness, than, after knowing it, to- 
turn back from the holy command delivered to them. ‘ 
In their case it has happened according to the true 
proverb, 

The dog returns again to his own vomit,’ and 


The sow, after washing, to her wallowing in the 
mire. ' 


Pt a 


eel 


Sa 
2 


+ PLOY. 2675401 | 
aide 


THE GLORIOUS HOPE OF THE SECOND 
COMING 


Though He Tarry, He Will Come 


This is now my second letter to you, beloved. — 
In both of them I am stirring up your pure minds 3 


650 


ee 


Ed 


wey 


i 


10 


11 


12 


13 


II. PETER 3 


by putting you in remembrance. I want you to 
recollect the words that were foretold by the holy 
prophets, and the command of your Lord and 
Saviour, given you through your apostles. Know 
this first, that mockers will come in the last days, 
in their mockery, men who walk the way of their 
own lusts and say, 

“Where is the promise of His coming? For since 
the day that our fathers fell asleep everything con- 
tinues as it was from the beginning of the creation.” 
For they willingly ignore the fact that there were 
heavens, from of old, and an earth formed out of 
water and through water, by the word of God; and 
that by the same means the world which then existed 
was destroyed by a deluge of water. But the 
heavens and earth that now are, by the same word 
of God, have been reserved for fire, and are being 
kept for the Day of Judgment, and for the destruc- 
tion of ungodly men. 


The Day of the Lord 


Do not forget this one thing, beloved, that one 
day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a 
thousand years as one day. The Lord does not 
loiter over his promise, as some men esteem loiter- 
ing; but he is longsuffering toward you, not pur- 
posing that any should perish, but that all should 
pass on to repentance. But the Day of the Lord 
will come like a thief; and on that Day the heavens 
will vanish with a crash, the heavenly bodies will 
melt with fervent heat, and the earth and all its 
works will be burned up. Now since all things 
are in the process of dissolution, what kind of 
men ought you to be, in all holy living and piety; 
while you look for and hasten the coming of the 
Day of God. At its coming the heavens, being on 
fire, will be dissolved, and the heavenly bodies 
will melt with fervent heat. But according to 
his promise, we are looking for new heavens and 
a new earth, in which righteousness makes her 
dwelling. 


651 


14 


15 
16 


17 


18 


Il. PETER 8 















Be Prepared for the Day 


And so, beloved, since you are looking for these 
things, continually give diligence that you may be 
found in peace, unspotted and blameless in his sight. 
Regard our Lord’s longsuffering as salvation; even 
as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you, accord- 
ing to the wisdom given to him. It is the same in 
all his letters when he speaks of these things. There 
are indeed some things in his letters hard to under- 
stand, which the ignorant and the shifty wrest, as 
also they do the other Scriptures, to their own 
destruction. Do you therefore, beloved, because yo | 
know these things beforehand, be on your guard 
lest you be led astray by the error of the wicked, 
and so fall from your own stedfastness. But grow 
continually in the grace and knowledge of our Lord 
and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory 
both now and unto the Day of Eternity, Amen. 


652 


FIRST LETTER 
OF 


JOHN 

















Date: 


Author: 


Purpose: 









This letter was written from Ephesus, ac- 
cording to ancient tradition, late in the 
first century. 


Its author is John, the author of the Fourth 
Gospel, as is evidenced by its style and 
thought. 


The purpose of the letter is to correct certain 
popular errors regarding the person and 
work of Christ. It is an assertion of first- 
hand knowledge of God’s supreme Word to 
man in the incarnate Christ. 1 

Its key-words are “know,” “light,” “ love,” 
“death,” and “ world.” 

Its sphere is in the immediate, intuitive, and 
self-evidencing power of truth. 





be 


5 


6 


I. JOHN 


tl 
THE LIFE ETERNAL 


We Ourselves Have Known the Logos of Life 


It is of what has existed from the beginning, of 
what we have listened to, of what we have seen 
with our own eyes, of what we have witnessed and 
touched with our own hands, it is concerning the 
Logos of Life that we are now writing. And the 
Life was made visible, and we have seen it and 
are bearing witness, and are bringing you word 
of that Eternal Life which was face to face with 
the Father and was made visible to us. It is what 
we have seen and heard that we are announcing 
to you, in order that you also may have partnership 
with us; and our partnership is with the Father and 
with his Son, Jesus Christ. And we are writing all 
this to you that our joy may be complete. 


This Is the Message 


This, then, is the message that we have heard 
from him, and are announcing to you, that God is 
light, and no darkness whatever is in him. If we 
say, 

“We have partnership with Him,” 
when we are passing our life in the darkness, we 
are lying and are not doing the truth. But if we 
are passing our life in the light, as he is in the 
light, we ever have partnership with one another, 
and the blood of Jesus Christ is cleansing us from 


8 every sin. If we say, 


“ We have no sin,” 
655 


10 


iow) 


co 


I. JOHN 2 


we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in 
us. But if we confess our sins, faithful is he and 
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from 
all wrong-doing. If we say, 

“We have not sinned,” 
we are making him a liar, and his word is not in us, 


II 


A PASSING AND AN ABIDING GLORY 


The Test of Love Is Obedience 


My children, I am writing this to you that you 
may not continue to sin; but if any one sin, we ever 
have a Comforter before the Father, Jesus Christ 
the Righteous. And he is the propitiation for our 
sins, and not for ours only, but also for those of 
the whole world. 


Knowing by Obeying 

This is how we may know that we have come to 
know Him, by always keeping his commandments. 
He who says, 

“T know Him,” 
but does not continue obeying his commandments, 
is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but if any 
man obey his word, in him truly is the love of God 
made perfect. By this we come to know that we 
are in him: he who says he “remains in him” 
ought to spend his life as he spent his. 


An Old, New Commandment 


Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment 
to you, nay, an old commandment, which you have 
had from the beginning. That old commandment is 
the message to which you have listened. Yet again it 
is a new commandment which I am writing to you, 
which is true in him and in you; because the dark- 
ness is passing away, and the true light is already 
shining. He who says he is in the light, and 
hates his brother, is in darkness even until now. 


656 


10 
11 


12 
13 


14 


15 
16 


17 


18 


19 


20 


21 


22 


I. JOHN 2 


But he who loves his brother is abiding in the light, 
and in it there is no cause of stumbling. But he 
who hates his brother is in the darkness, and is 
spending his life in the darkness, and does not know 
where he is going, because the darkness has blinded 
his eyes. 


Love Not the World 


I am writing to you, little children, because your 
sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. I am 
writing to you, fathers, because you have come to 
know him who is from the beginning. I am writ- 
ing to you, young men, because you have fully 
overcome the Evil One. I have written to you, 
little children, because you have learned to know 
the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because 
you have learned to know him who is from the 
beginning. I have written to you, young men, be- 
cause you are strong, and the word of God is abid- 
ing in you, and you have fully overcome the Evil 
One. Love not the world, neither the things that 
are in the world. If any man love the world, the 
love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in 
the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the 
eyes, and the proud glory of life, is not from the 
Father, but from the world; and the world and its 
lusts are passing away, but he who ever does the 
will of God abides forever. 


The Antichrists 


My children, this is the last hour, and as you have 
heard that an antichrist was coming, and now 
many antichrists are already risen, whence we may 
know that it is the last hour. They came forth 
from us, but they did not belong to us. If they had 
belonged to us they would certainly have remained 
with us, but they went out that they might be 
manifest that they all are not of us. Now you 
have an anointing from the Holy One, and you 
know all things. I am not writing to you because 
you do not know the truth, but because you do know 
it, and know that no lie is of the truth. Who is 


657 


23 


24 


25 


26 
27 


28 


29 


I. JOHN 3 


the liar if not the man who denies that Jesus is 
the Christ? This is the Antichrist, even he who 
disowns the Father and the Son. 


Abide in the Father and the Son 


Whoever denies the Son, the same has not the 
Father; but he who confesses the Son has the 


Father also. As for you, let what you have heard 


from the beginning abide in you. If what you have 
heard from the beginning is abiding in you, you 
also will ever abide in the Son and in the Father. 
And this is the promise which he has promised to us, 
even life eternal. 


The Unction from the Highest 


I have written this to you concerning those who 
would lead you astray. As to you, the unction you 
received from him remains ever in you, and you need 
no teaching from any one. But since his unction 


teaches you concerning all things and is true, and 


is no lie, abide continually in him, as it has taught 
you to do. And now continue to abide in him, my 
children, so that when he shall appear we may have 


cheerful confidence and not be ashamed before him | 


at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, 
you know also that every one who habitually prac- 


tises righteousness has been born of him. 


III 


PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES OF GOD’S 
CHILDREN 


Behold What Manner of Love 


Behold what manner of love the Father has. 


given us in allowing us to be called “ Children of 


eit aes, 


God”! And that is what we are. For this reason 
the world does not recognize us, because it did not — 


know him. We are God’s children now, beloved; 


what we shall be has never yet been made manifest. 
But we know that when he is manifested we shall be 


658 


‘I. JOHN 8 


3 like him; for we shall see him even as he is. And 
every one who is holding this hope in him is purify- 

4 ing himself, even as he is pure. Every one who 
commits sin commits also lawlessness. Sin is law- 

5 lessness. And you know that he was manifested to 
take away sins; and in him is no sin. 


The Child of God Can Not Live in Sin 


6 Whoever continually abides in him does not habit- 
ually sin; whoever lives in sin has not seen him, nor 
7 come to know him. My children, let no one deceive 
you; he who is working righteousness is righteous, 
8 just as he is righteous. He who is committing sin is 
of the devil, because from the beginning the devil is 
sinning. It was for this cause that the Son of 
God was manifested, that he might destroy the 
9 works of the devil. Whoever is a child of God can- 
not go on sinning, because his seed is abiding in 
him; and he cannot go on sinning because he is a 
10 child of God. In this the children of God are mani- 
fest, and the children of the devil; for every one 
who does not work righteousness is not a child of 
God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 
11 For this is the message that you have listened to 
from the beginning, 


‘WE ARE TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” 


Migrating from the Cain Country to the Abel Country 


12 We are not to be like Cain, who belonged to the 
Evil One, and murdered his brother. And why did 
he murder him? It was because his own deeds 

13 were evil, and his brother’s, righteous. Do not 
wonder, brothers, if the world continues to hate you. 

14 We know that we have migrated, out of death into 
life, because we love our brothers. He who has no 

15 love is abiding in death. Every one who is hating 
his brother is a murderer, and you know that no 

16 murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this 
we learn to know love, because he laid down his life 
for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our 
brothers. 


659 


17 
18 
19 
20 
21 


22 


23 
24 


1 
2 


co 


I. JOHN 4 


The Proof of Love 


But whoever has this world’s goods, and beholds 
his brother in need, and shuts up his heart against 
him, how can the love of God continue to abide in 
him? My children, let us not love in word nor in 
talk, but in deed and in truth. By this we shall 
come to know that we are really of. the truth, and 
shall persuade our heart in his presence whenever 
our heart condemns us, because God is greater than 
our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our 
heart condemn us not, we have confidence toward 
God, and whatever we ask we are receiving from 
him, because we are keeping his commandments and 
doing those things that are pleasing in his sight. 
His commandment is this, that we should believe 
in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one 
another as he has commanded us to do. He who 
keeps his commandments is abiding in Him, and 
Christ in him. By this we know that Christ is 
abiding in us, by the Spirit which he has given us. 


IV 
THE GREAT GOD IS LOVE 


The Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error 


Do not believe every spirit, beloved, but test the 
spirits to see whether they are of God; for many 
false prophets are gone out into the world. By this 
you know the Spirit of God; every spirit that con- 
fesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is from 
God; and every spirit which confesses him not, is 
not from God. And this is that spirit of Antichrist 
of which you have heard that it is coming, and that 
now it is already in the world. My little children, 
you are of God and have conquered them; because 
he that is within you is greater than he that is 
in the world. They are of the world, and for this 
reason they speak as of the world, and the world 


660 


I. JOHN 4 


6 listens to them. But you are of God. He who is 
beginning to know God listens to us; he who is not 
of God does not listen to us. By this we may dis- 
tinguish the spirit of truth from the spirit of error. 


“ Love Carries Its Own Passport ” 


7 Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of 
God; and every one that loves is a child of God. 
8 He who does not love, does not know God; for God 
9 is love. In this was the love of God clearly shown 
toward us, by his sending his only Son into the 
10 world, so that we might live through him. In this 
is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, 
and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins. 
11 If God so loved us, beloved, we also ought to love 
12 one another. No man has ever gazed on God; but 
if we love one another, God ever abides in us, and 
13 his love is perfected in us. By this we come to 
know that we are abiding in him, and he in us, be- 
14 cause he has given us of his Spirit; and we have 
beheld and do testify that the Father has sent the 
Son to be the Saviour of the world. 


We Love Because He Loves 


15 If any man confesses that 
“ Jesus is the Son of God,” 

16 God is abiding in that man, and he in God. And 
we do know and have believed the love which God 
has for us. God is love; and he who is abiding in 
love is abiding in God, and God is abiding in him, 

17 In this is love made perfect with us, so that we may 
have cheerful confidence in the Day of Judgment, 
because we are living in this world as He lives. 


18 Fear does not exist in love; but love, when it is 


perfect, drives out fear. For fear has always tor- 
ment, and he who has fear is not yet perfected in 
19,20 love. We love because He loved us first. If any 
one says, 
“TI love God,” 
and yet hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who 
does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot 


661 


21 


1 


2 


c 00 -] 


10 


11 


12 


I. JOHN 5 


possibly love God, whom he has not seen. And we 
have this command from God: 


HE WHO LOVES GOD IS TO LOVE HIS 
BROTHER ALSO? 


SOL cbseseeL oe 
V 


THE VICTORY THAT OVERCOMES THE 
WORLD 


The Proof that We Love God 


Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is 
a child of God; and every one who loves the Father, 
loves him Aca who is the Father’s Child. By this 
we know that we love the children of God, when we 
love God and obey his commandments. For love 
to God means obeying his commandments; and his 
commandments are not irksome. For whoever is 
a child of God is overcoming the world; and our 
faith is the victory that has overcome the world. 
And who is the one that is overcoming the world if | 
not the man who believes that Jesus is the Son of 
God? 

Jesus Christ is he who came by water and blood, 
not by the water only, but by the water and by the 
blood. The Spirit is he who bears testimony, be- | 
cause the Spirit is the truth. For there are three 
who bear testimony, the Spirit, and the water, and 
the blood; and the three are one. If we accept men’s 
testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this 
is the testimony of God, that he has borne testimony 
concerning his Son. He who believes on the Son of 
God has the testimony in himself. He who does not 
believe God, has made him a liar, because he has 
not believed in the testimony that God has borne 
concerning his Son. And the testimony is this, 

“God has given us eternal life, and this life is- 
in his Son.” 

He who has the Son has the life; he who has not 
the Son of God has not the life. 


662 





18 
14 


15 


16 


17 


18 


19 


”) 
a 


21 


I. JOHN 5 


Purpose of the Letter 

I have written these words to you so that you 
may know that you have eternal life, you who be- 
lieve in the name of the Son of God. Now the con- 
fidence which we have in him is this, that he listens 
to us whenever we ask anything that is in accor- 
dance with his will. And if we know that he is listen- 
ing to us in whatever we are asking, we know that 
we obtain the petitions which we have made to him. 
If any one sees his brother committing a sin that is 
not deadly, he shall ask, and God will give him life, 
for any one who is not committing a deadly sin. 
There is a deadly sin; concerning that I do not say 
that he should pray. All unrighteousness is sin; and 
there is sin that is not deadly. 


Live As Those Who Know God 


We know that whoever is a child of God is not 
habitually committing sin; but he who is God’s child 
guards himself, and the Evil One never touches him. 
We know that we are of God, and the whole world 
is lying in the Evil One. And we know that the 
Son of God is come, and has granted us an under- 
standing, so that we may come to know him who 
is true. And we are in him who is true, even in his 
Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God, and life 
eternal. My little children, guard yourselves from 
idols. 


663 








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SECOND LETTER 
OF 


JOHN 


Address: A letter to a Christian lady, or it may be 
to a Christian church. 


Date: Date and place unknown. 
Writer: The apostle John. 


Contents: Letter contains an appeal for an exhibition 
of Christian love, and a warning against 
false teachers. 


3 


1 
2 
3 


4 
5 


# 


10 


Il. JOHN 


Salutation 


The Elder to the Elect Lady and her children, 
whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all 
those who have come to know the truth. I love you 
for the sake of the truth which is abiding in us 
and will be with us forever. Grace, mercy, and 
peace will be with us from God the Father, and 
from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and 
love. 


Let Us Love One Another 


I am greatly rejoiced to find some of your chil- 
dren leading their lives in truth, even as we re- 
ceived commandment from the Father. And now 
I am entreating you, Lady, not as though I were 
writing some new commandment to you, but one 
which we have had from the beginning, let us love 
one another. And this is love, that we should lead 
our lives according to his commandments. This is 
the commandment, even as you heard from the be- 
ginning, that you should pass your life in love. 


Warning Against False Teachers 


I say this because many deceivers are gone forth 
into the world, those who deny the coming of Jesus 
Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the 
Antichrist. Watch yourselves, that you do not lose 
what we have wrought, but that you receive a full 
reward. Whoever is going ahead, and is not abid- 
ing in the teachings of Christ, does not possess 
God; but he who is abiding in the teaching possesses 
both the Father and the Son. If any one comes to 
you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive 
him into your house, nor give him any greeting. 


667 


Il. JOHN 


11 For the man who greets him shares in his wicked 
work. 


Greetings and Farewell 


12 I have many things to write to you, but I would 
not write them with paper and ink. I hope to 
come to you and to talk with you face to face, so 
that your joy may be full. 

13 ‘The children of your elect sister send you greeting. 


668 


THIRD LETTER 
OF 


JOHN 


Date: 
Author: 


Characteristics: 


Date and place unknown. 
The apostle John. 


Sent to a friend, Gaius. 

Contains commendation for Christian 
hospitality to missionaries, a warn- 
ing against a place-hunter, Diot- 
rephes, and commendation of De- 
metrius. 


Til. JOHN 


Greeting 


1. The Elder to the beloved Gaius, 
whom I love in the truth. 


Prayer 
2 I pray that you may prosper, beloved, in every 
way, and be in good health, even as your soul -is 
3 prospering. For I was glad when brothers came 
and bore testimony to your truth, as indeed you are 
4 passing your life in truth. I have no greater joy 
than this, to hear that my children are passing 
their lives in the truth. 


Commendation 


5 You are acting faithfully, beloved, in whatever 

you are doing for the brothers and the strangers. 

6 They have borne testimony to your love before the 

church. You will do well to speed them on their 

“% way worthily of God; since for the sake of the 

Name they have started out, taking nothing from 

8 the Gentiles. Hence we ought to support such, so 
that we may become fellow workers for the truth. 


Diotrephes, the Place-hunter 


9 I have written somewhat to the church; but 
Diotrephes, who loves to take the lead among them, 

10 does not receive me. So then when I come I will 
recall to mind the deeds which he is doing, prating 
against me with wicked words. Not satisfied with 
that, he refuses to receive the brothers, forbids 
those that would receive them, and excommunicates 

11 them from the church. Do not imitate what is evil, 
beloved, but that which is good. He who does good 

is of God; he who does evil has never gazed on God. 


671 


III. JOHN 


Demetrius’ Good Record 

12 All men bear testimony to Demetrius, and so does 
the truth itself. I also bear testimony to him ; and 
you know that my testimony is true. 


Farewell Greetings 


13 I have a great deal to write to you, but I do not 
14 want to write to you with pen and ink. I am 
hoping soon to see you, and then we shall talk 
face to face. 
Peace be to you! The friends send their saluta- 
tion. 
Salute the friends by name. 


672 


JUDE’S LETTER 


Date: 
Author: 


Characteristics: 


Date and place of writing uncertain. 


Jude, the brother of J ames, and so of 
Jesus. 
He is not one of the apostles. 


It is apparently addressed to Jewish 
Christians who were using their 
freedom from the law as an occa- 
sion for immorality. 

The letter has many resemblances to 
Peter’s second letter. 


1 


2 


3 


~] 


JUDE’S LETTER 


Greeting 


Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ, and a brother of 
James: 

To those who are in God, the Father beloved, kept 
for Jesus Christ, and called. May mercy and peace 
and love be multiplied to you. 


Aim of the Letter 


Beloved, although I was making all haste to 
write to you in regard to our common salvation, I 
am compelled to write you an appeal to defend the 
faith once for all committed to the saints. For cer- 
tain men have crept in stealthily—men predestined 
in ancient prophecies for this condemnation—im- 
pious ones! They pervert the grace of our God into 
licentiousness, and deny Jesus Christ, our sole Mas- 
ter and Lord. 


Certain Doom of Sensualists 


I wish to remind you of what you already know . 
right well, that although the Lord once saved a 
people out of the land of Egypt, he afterward de- 
‘stroyed those who did not believe; while the angels 
who did not keep their first domain but left their 
proper abode, are held by him in blank darkness, in 
everlasting chains, in preparation for the judgment 
of the Great Day. So also Sodom and Gomorrah 
and the near-by cities which in like manner glutted 
themselves in sensuality and unnatural vice, are 
exhibited as a warning of the eternal fire, in the 
punishment they undergo. Yet in just the same 
way these dreamers also defile the flesh, while they 
set at naught dominion and scoff at dignities. 


675 


JUDE 


Illustrations from Old Testament 


9 But Michael, the Archangel, when in contending 
with the devil, he was disputing about the body of 
Moses, did not dare to pronounce sentence for 

10 blasphemy, but said, “ The Lord rebuke you.” Yet 
these men blaspheme about matters of which they 
know nothing, while they use such things as they 
do understand by instinct (like the animals who 

11 have no reason) for their own destruction. Alas 
for them! They have walked in the path of Cain; 
for the sake of gain they have rushed headlong into 
Balaam’s error, and have perished in Korah’s re- 
bellion. 

12 These are they who are stains upon your love- 
feasts; when they feast sumptuously without 
scruple, looking after none but themselves. They 
are clouds without water, driven along by the 
winds; trees of autumn, fruitless, doubly dead, torn 

13 up by the roots, wild waves of the sea, foaming out 
their own shame; wandering stars, for whom is 
reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 

14 It was to these, too, that Enoch, the “ seventh 
in descent from Adam,” prophesied, saying, 

“Lo! the Lord is come with myriads of his saints, 

15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the 
ungodly of all the ungodly deeds which in their un- 
godliness they have committed; and of all the hard 
things which they have spoken against Him, un- 
godly sinners that they are!” 

16 For these are murmurers, always complaining. They 
always go where their passions lead, and their 
mouth speaks great swelling words, while they pay 
court to men for the sake of the advantage they 
can get. 


“ Christian, Walk Carefully ” 


17 But as for you, dearly beloved, remember the 
words spoken before by the apostles of our Lord 
18 Jesus Christ, how they used to say to you, 


1Deut. 338 : 2; Zech. 14 : 5. 


676 


19 
20 


21 


22 


23 


24 
25 


JUDE 


“In the last times there will be scoffers who will 
be led only by their godless passions.” 
These are the men, sensual and unspiritual, who 
cause divisions. But you, beloved, continually build- 
ing yourselves up on your most holy faith, and 
ever praying in the Holy Spirit, must keep your- 
selves in the love of God, while waiting for the 
mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, which ends in life 
eternal. Pity some who are wavering, and save 
by dragging them out of the fire; others pity, but 
with caution, hating even the garment spotted by 
the flesh. 


Benediction 


Now unto Him who has power to guard you from 
stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence 
of his glory, faultless and exultant, to the only 
God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, 
be ascribed glory, majesty, might, and authority, as 
it was before time began, is now, and ever shall 
be to all the ages. Amen. 


677 









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THE REVELATION OF JOHN 


Date: 
Author: 


Characteristics: 


Interpretation: 


Perhaps during the reign of Nero, 
perhaps during that of Domitian. 


By well-established tradition, the 
apostle John. 


The book is an Apocalypse, or “ un- 
veiling,” a symbolic vision which in 
turn breaks into seven visions. Its 
imagery is symbol rather than em- 
blem; hence it does not lend itself 
to pictorial representation. 


The interpretation of John’s vision or 
apocalypse has been a battle-ground 
for centuries. There are at least 
four principal schools of interpreta- 
tion: (1) Preterist; (2) Historie; 
(8) Futurist; (4) Spiritual. The 
first interprets the vision as having 
reference to episodes in Jewish and 
Christian history up to the fall of 
Jerusalem and the fall of Rome; 
the second, that we have here in 
vision the entire course of all the 
centuries of the Christian era; the 
third postpones the significance of 
the vision to the events accompany- | 
ing the second coming of Christ; the 
fourth holds that in sign and sym- 
bol we have the never-ending con- 
flict between good and evil por-. 
trayed. 

The book was evidently intended to 
encourage sorely persecuted Chris- 
tians to believe in the ultimate 
sure triumph of God and of good- 
ness. 


THE REVELATION OF JOHN 


1 THE UNVEILING [APOCALYPSE] OF 
JESUS CHRIST 


which God gave him to show to his slaves the things 
which must soon come to pass; and he sent and 

2 made it known by his angel to his slave John. He 
bore witness of the Word of God, and of the testi- 
mony of Jesus Christ, even of all the things that 
he saw. 


First Beatitude 


3 Blessed is he who reads, and they who hear the 
words of the prophecy, and keep what is written 
in it. 

FOR THE CRISIS IS AT HAND. 


4 


OO 


~] 


ie.) 


10 


11 


12 


13 


REVELATION 1 


PROLOGUE 
THE MESSAGE TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES 


Salutation . 


From John to the seven churches that are in 
Asia [the Roman Province]: Grace to you, and 
peace from Him that is and was and is to be, and 
from the Seven Spirits that are before his throne, 
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the 
firstborn of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings 
of the earth. To Him who loves us and has loosed 
us from our sins in his own blood; and has made 
us to be a kingdom of priests unto his God and 
Father; to him be the glory and the dominion for- 
ever and ever, Amen. 

Behold, he is about to come among the clouds; 
and every eye will see him, even those who pierced 
him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn 
over him. So shall it be, Amen. 

“T am the Alpha and the Omega,” 
says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who 
is to come, the Almighty. 


John Narrates His Vision 


I, John, who am your brother and who share with 
you in the woes and kingdom and stedfastness of 
Jesus, found myself in the island called Patmos, for 
the sake of the word of God and the testimony of 
Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and 
I heard a loud voice behind me, like a trumpet, 
saying, 

“Write in a book what you see, and send it to 
the seven churches; to Ephesus and to Smyrna and — 
to Pergamum and to Thyatira and Sardis and Phila- 
delphia and Laodicea.”’ 


The Vision of Christ 


And I turned to see the Voice which was speaking 
to me, and as I turned I saw seven golden candle- 
sticks; and in the midst of the candlesticks One © 


682 


REVELATION 2 


like to a son of man, clothed with a robe down 
to the feet, and with a golden girdle round his 

14 breast. His head and his hair were as white as 
wool, as white as snow; his eyes were like a flame 

15 of fire, and his feet like burnished brass, as if 
molten in a furnace; and his voice like the voice of 

16 many waters. In his right hand he held seven 
stars; and out of his mouth went a sharp, two- 
edged sword, and his face was as the sun shining 
in his strength. 


John Receives His Commission 


17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. 
And he laid his right hand upon me, saying: 
“Fear not; I am the first and the last, and the 
18 Living One. I was dead, and behold, I am alive 
forevermore; and hold the keys of death and of 
19 Hades. So write the things which you saw, and 
the things which are, and the things that will 
20 come to pass hereafter. The mystery of the seven 
stars which you saw in my right hand, and the 
seven golden candlesticks, is this: The seven stars 
are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven 
candlesticks are the seven churches.” 


II 
MESSAGES TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES 


Salutation to the Backsliding Church 
1 ‘To the angel of the Church in Ephesus, write: 
These are the words of Him who holds the seven 
stars in his right hand, and who walks among the 
seven golden candlesticks: 


Commendation 

2 I know your works and your toil and stedfast- 
ness, and that you cannot endure evil men, and that 
you tested those who called themselves apostles, 
though they are not, and how you found them false. 


683 


REVELATION 2 


3 You are holding fast, and have borne up for my 
name’s sake, and have not grown weary. 


Rebuke 


4 But I have this against you, that you have left 

5 your first love. Remember whence you have fallen, 
and turn again, and do your first works. Other- 
wise I am coming to you, and will remove your 

6 candlestick out of its place, unless you repent. But — 
this you have, that you hate the works of the 
Nicolaitans, which I hate. 


First Overcome 


7 He who has an ear, let him listen to what the 
Spirit is saying to the churches. To him that over- 
comes, to him will I give to eat from the tree of 
life which is in the garden of God. 


Salutation to the Heroic Chureh 


8 And unto the angel of the Church in Smyrna, 
write: These are the words of the First and the 
Last, he who died and has returned to life: 


Commendation 


9 I know your persecution and your poverty—but 
you are rich! I know the reviling of those who say 
that they themselves are Jews, when they are not, 

10 but are a synagogue of Satan. Fear not what you 
are about to suffer! Behold, the devil is indeed go- 
ing to put some of you in prison, that you may be 
tested, and you will have persecution for ten days. 
Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the 
crown of life. 


Second Overcome 


11 Let him who has ears, listen to what the Spirit is 
saying to the churches: He that overcomes shall not 
be hurt of the second death. 


Salutation to the Worldly Church 
12. And to the angel of the Church in Pergamum, 
write: 


684. 


13 


14 


15 


16 


17 


18 


19 


20 


REVELATION 2 


These are the words of Him who holds the sharp 
two-edged sword: 


Commendation 


I know where you dwell, where the throne of Satan 
is; and yet you are holding fast my name, and you 
have not denied my faith, even in the days of 
Antipas, my witness, my faithful one, who was 
slain among you, where Satan has his dwelling. 


Rebuke 


But I have a few things against you, because you 
have there some who hold to the teaching of Balaam, 
who taught Balak to put a stumbling-block before 
the sons of Israel, to eat food offered to idols, and 
to practise immorality. So you have also some 
who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent; 
if you do not I will very soon come to you, and will 
make war upon them with the sword of my mouth. 


Third Overcome 

He who has ears, let him listen to what the Spirit 
is saying to the churches. To him that overcomes I 
will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him 
a white stone, and upon the stone a new name 
written, which no man knows, but he that receives it. 


Salutation to the Lax Church 
And to the angel of the Church in Thyatira, write: 
These are the words of the Son of God, who has 
his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet like burn- 
ished brass: 


Commendation 


I know your works and your love and faith and 
service and endurance; I know that your last works 
are more than the first. 


Rebuke 


But I have this against you, that you are tolerat- 
ing that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a proph- 
etess, and she is teaching and leading my slaves 


685 


21 


22 


23 


24 


25 


26 
27 
28 
29 


ck 


2 


REVELATION 3 


astray, leading them to practise immorality, and to 
eat food which has been sacrificed to idols. I have 
given her time for repentance; but she is deter- 
mined not to turn from her immorality. Behold, I 
will lay her on a sick bed, and bring great distress 
upon those who have committed adultery with her, 
unless they turn away from her works. And more- 
over, her children will I kill with pestilence. And 
all the churches shall know that I am he who 
searches the hearts and souls of men. I will give 
to each of you according to his works. But to the 
rest of you in Thyatira, those who do not hold his 
teaching, and who do not know the “ deep things ” 
of Satan (as thev call them), I say that I am im- 
posing upon you no fresh burden; only hold fast- 
what you have till I come. 


Fourth Overcome 


To him that overcomes and perseveres in my 
works to the end, will I give authority over the 
nations. And he shall shepherd them with a rod 
of iron, shattering them like earthen vessels (as I 
myself have received from my Father), and I will 
give him the Morning Star.” 

Let him who has an ear, listen to what the Spirit 
is saying to the churches. 


III 


MESSAGE TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES, 
CONTINUED 


Salutation to the Dead Church 


To the angel of the Church at Sardis, write: 
These things says He who has the seven Spirits 
of God and the seven stars: 


Rebuke 


I know your works, that you have the name of 
being alive, but are really dead. Be continually on 


686 


7 


10 


11 


REVELATION 3 


the watch, and establish the things that remain, 
which were ready to die. For I have not found 
your works perfected before my God. Call to mind, 
then, what you have received and heard, and hold 
to it, and repent. Unless you are on the watch, I 
will come as a thief, and you will never know at 
what hour Iam coming upon you. Yet you have 
a few names in Sardis that have not defiled their 
garments; and they shall walk with me in white, 
for they are worthy. 


Fifth Overcome 


He who overcomes shall thus be clad in white 
raiment; and I will in no wise blot out his name 
from the book of life, and I will own his name be- 
fore my Father, and before his angels. 

Let him who has an ear, listen to what the Spirit 
is saying to the churches. 


Salutation to the Obedient Church 


Write also to the angel of the Church in Phila- 
delphia: 

These things says He who is holy, he who is true, 
he who has the key of David, he who opens, and no 
one shall shut; and who shuts, and no one opens: 


Commendation 


_I know your works. Lo, I have set before you 
an open door, which none can shut; for though you 
have only a little strength, you have kept my word, 
and have not denied my name. Behold, I am mak- 
ing those of the synagogue of Satan, those who say 
they are Jews, but are not, but are lying; behold, I 
will make them to come, and bow in reverence be- 
fore your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 
Because you have kept the word of my patience, I 
also will keep you from that hour of trial which is 
about to come upon the whole inhabited earth, to 
test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming 
quickly. Hold fast what you have, that no one may 
take your crown. 


687 


12 


14 


15 
16 


17 


18 


19 


20 


21 


22 


REVELATION 3 


Sixth Overcome 

He that overcomes, I will make him a pillar in 
the temple of my God; and he shall go out from it 
nevermore. And I will write upon him the name 
of my God, and the name of the city of my God, 
the new Jerusalem, which is coming down from my 
God out of heaven, and my own new name. 

He that has an ear, let him listen to what the 
Spirit is saying to the churches. 


Salutation to the Lukewarm Church 
To the angel of the Church in Laodicea, write: 
These things says the Amen, the witness, faith- 
ful and true, the beginning of the creation of God: 


Reproof 

I know your works, that you are neither hot nor 
cold. Would that you were either cold or hot. So 
because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor 
cold, I am about to spew you out of my mouth. 
For you keep saying, “I am rich, and have become 
wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and do not 
know that you are the wretched one, and pitiable 
and beggared and blind and naked. I advise you 
to buy of me gold refined by fire, that you may 
become rich; and white raiment to clothe yourself, 
so that the shame of your nakedness may not be 
made manifest; and eye-salve to anoint your eyes, 
in order that you may see. All whom I love I re- 
prove and discipline; therefore be full of zeal and 
repent. Behold, I am standing at the door and 
knocking! If any one listens to my voice, and opens 
the door, I will come to him, and sup with him, and 
he with me. 


Seventh Overcome 


To him who overcomes, I will Sieg to sit down 
with me on my throne, as I myself have overcome 
and have taken my seat with my Father on his 
throne. 

Let any one who has an ear listen to what the 
Spirit is saying to the churches. 


688 


di 


10 


REVELATION 4 


IV 


I. THE VISION OF THE SEVEN SEALS 
AND OF THE LAMB 


After this, in my vision, I saw a door opened in 
heaven! And the first voice that I heard speaking 
with me was like a trumpet, saying, 

“ Come up hither, and I will show you the things 
that must come to pass hereafter.” 


The Throne of God 


Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, 
there stood a throne in heaven, and upon the throne 
One sat; and he who sat was in appearance like 
a jasper stone and a sardius; and there was a rain- 
bow round about the throne, like an emerald to look 
upon. And round about the throne were four and 
twenty thrones; and upon these. thrones I saw four 
and twenty Elders seated, who were clothed in white 
raiment, with golden crowns upon their heads. 

From the throne issued lightning and voices 
and thunders. Seven blazing lamps were burning 
before the throne; these are the seven Spirits of 
God. And in front of the throne as it seemed, a 
glassy sea like crystal; and in the midst of the 
throne and encircling it are four Living Creatures, 
full of eyes before and behind. 


The Living Creatures 

The first creature was like a lion, and the second 
like a calf, and the third creature had a face like 
a man’s, and the fourth creature was like an eagle 
flying. And the four Living Creatures, each one 
with six wings, are full of eyes round about and 
within; day and night they are chanting ceaselessly, 
“ Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty. 

Who was, and who is, and who is to come.” 
And whenever the Living Creatures give glory and 
honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, 
to Him who lives forever and ever, the four and 
twenty Elders fall down before Him who sits on 


689 


11 


1 
2 


6 


REVELATION 5 


the throne, and worship Him who lives forever and 
ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, 
saying: 
“Worthy art thou, our Lord and our God, 
To receive the glory and the honor and the power; 
For, thou didst create all things, | 
And because of thy will they came into being 
And were created.” 


V 


THE LAMB OPENS THE BOOK. WHILE 
THE ANGELS SING 


THE FIRST VISION CONTINUED 


The Sealed Book of the Future 


Then I saw lying upon the right hand of Him who 
sat upon the throne, a book written within and on 
the back, close sealed with seven seals. And I saw 
a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘‘ Who 
is worthy to open the book, and to loose its seals.” 
And no one in the heavens or on the earth, or under 
the earth, was able to open the book, or to look into 
it. So I began to weep bitterly because no one was 
found worthy to open the book, or to look into it. 
But one of the Elders. said to me: . 

“Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of 
Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, and so 
can open the book with its seven seals.” 


The Lion Is a Lamb 


Then I beheld a Lamb standing as if slain in the 
midst of the throne and of the four Living Crea- 
tures, and in the midst of the Elders. He had 
seven horns and seven eyes (which are the seven 
Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth). 
And he went, and now he has taken the book out 
of the right hand of Him who was seated on the 
throne. When he took the book, the four Living 
Creatures and the four and twenty Elders fell down 
before the Lamb. And each had a harp and golden 


690 


REVELATION 6 


bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the 
9 saints. And they sang a new song, saying, 
“Worthy art thou to take the book 
And to open its seals; 
For thou wast slain and didst ransom for God 
Men out of every tribe and tongue and people 
and nation; 
10 Thou hast made them kings and priests unto our 
God, 
And they shall reign on earth.” 


The Glorious Anthem 
11 Then I looked and heard a voice of many angels 
encircling the throne and a voice of the Living 
Creatures and of the Elders; and the number of 
them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and 
12 thousands of thousands, singing aloud, 
“ Worthy is the Lamb who has been slain, 
To receive power and riches and wisdom 
And might and honor and glory and blessing.” 
18 And I heard every created thing that is in heaven, 
or on earth, or beneath the earth, or on the sea, and 
all things that are in them, saying, 
“To Him who sits on the throne, 
And to the Lamb, 
Be the blessing and the honor, 
And the glory and the power, 
Forever and ever! ” 
14 And the four Living Creatures kept saying, 
“ Amen!” And the Elders fell down and worshiped. 


VI 


Il. VISION OF THE FOUR HORSES AND © 
OF JUDGMENT 


The Four Horses Summoned: 1. The White Horse, the 
Gospel 
1 And I saw, when the Lamb opened one of the 
seven seals, and I heard one of the four Living 
Creatures say, with a voice like thunder, 
“Come! ” 


691 


2 


3 


5 


7 


a 


REVELATION 6 


And I saw, and lo, a white horse, and he who sat 
on him had a bow; and there was given him a 
crown; and he went forth conquering, and to con- 
quer. 


2. Fhe Red Horse, War 


And when he opened the second seal, I heard 
the second Living Creature say, 

“Come! ” 
And another horse came forth, a red horse. To him 
who sat on it, it was allowed to take peace from the 
earth, and to cause men to kill one another; and a 
great sword was given to him. 


3. The Black Horse, Famine 


And when he opened the third seal, I heard the 
third Living Creature say, 

“Come! ” 
And I saw, and lo, a black horse! He who sat on 
him had a balance in his hand. And I heard the 
semblance of a voice in the midst of the four Living 
Creatures, saying: 

“A quart of wheat for a shilling, and three quarts 
of barley for a shilling; but do not harm the oil and 
the wine.” 


4, The Pale Horse, Death 


And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the 
voice of the fourth Living Creature calling, 

“Come!” 
So I looked, and lo, a pale horse; and he who sat 
on him was named Death; and Hades was follow- 
ing after him. To them was given authority over 
the fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword, 
and with famine, and with death, and with the 
wild beasts of the earth. 


5. A Cry for Justice 


And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under- 
neath the altar the souls of those who had been 
slain for the word of God, and for the testimony 


692 


10 


11 


12 


13 
14 
15 


16 


17 


1 


REVELATION 7 


which they bore. And with a loud voice they cried, 
saying, 
“O Master, holy and true, 

How long dost thou not judge 

And avenge our blood 

On those who dwell on the earth? ” 
And there was given to each one of them a white 
robe; and they were told that they should rest for 
yet a little time, until the number should be com- 
pleted by their fellow slaves and their brethren 
who were about to be put to death as they had been. 


6. The Day of Wrath Dawning 

And I looked when he opened the sixth seal, and 
there was a great earthquake; and the sun became 
black, like sackcloth, and the full moon became like 
blood; and the stars of the sky fell to earth, as a 
fig tree shaken by a gale drops its unripe figs. 
And the sky parted asunder like a rolled-up scroll; 
and every mountain and island was moved out of 
its place; and the kings of the earth, and the 
princes, and the generals, the rich and the mighty, 
both slaves and freemen, every one of them hid 
themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the 
mountains. And they began to say to the moun- 
tains and to the rocks: 
“Fall upon us and hide us 

From the face of him who is seated upon the 

throne, 

And from the wrath of the Lamb; 

For the Great Day of their wrath has come, 

And who is able to stand? ” 


VII 


SEALING OF THE SAINTS AND SONG OF 
REDEMPTION 


SECOND VISION CONTINUED 


Restraining the Winds 
After this I saw four angels, standing at the four 
corners of the earth, restraining the four winds 


693 


REVELATION 7 


from blowing on the earth, or on the sea, or on any 

2 tree. And I saw another angel ascend from the 
sunrising, having a seal of the living God; and he 
cried with a great voice to the four angels to whom 

3 it was given to injure the earth and the sea, saying, 
“Do no harm to the earth, or the sea, or the trees, 
Until we have sealed the slaves of our God on 

their foreheads.” ' 


Sealing the Saints 


4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 
a hundred and forty and four thousand, sealed out 
of every tribe of the children of Israel: 

5 Of the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were 
sealed; 

Of the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand; 
Of the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand; 

6 Of the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand; 

Of the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand; 

Of the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand; 
7 Of the tribe of Symeon, twelve thousand; 

Of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand; 

Of the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand ; 

8 Of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand; 

Of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand ; 
Of the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand. 


Vision of the Redeemed 


9 After this I looked, and behold a great multitude, 
whom no man could number, out of every nation 
and tribe and people and tongue, standing before 
the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white 

10 robes, with palm branches in their hands; and they 
cried with a loud voice, saying, 
‘“ Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, 
And to the Lamb!” 


The Angelic Host Sings with Them 
41 And all the angels stood encircling the throne, 
and the Elders and the Living Creatures; and they 
fell on their faces before the throne, worshiping 
12 God, and crying, 


694 


REVELATION 8 


“Even so! The blessing and the glory and the 
wisdom 
And the thanksgiving and the honor and the power 
and the might 
Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” 


Out of Great Persecution 


18 And one of the Elders spoke to me, saying: 
“Who are these, clad in white robes? Whence 
‘come they? ” 
14 And I said to him, 
“You know, my Lord.’ 
And he said to me, 
“These are those who have come out of the great 
persecution, and have washed their robes and made 
15 them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this 
they are now before the throne of God, and are 
serving him day and night in his temple. 
““ And He who sits on the throne 
Will spread his tabernacle over them. 
16 They hunger no more, 
Neither thirst any more; 
Neither will the sun strike upon them, 
Nor any scorching heat; 
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne 
Will shepherd them, 
And will lead them to fountains of living water; 
And God will wipe away every tear from their 
eyes.” 


VIIl 
Ill. THE VISION OF THE SEVEN TRUMPETS 


Seventh Seal: Silence of Expectation in Heaven 


1 And when he opened the seventh seal, there fol- 
lowed a silence in heaven, about the space of half 
an hour. 


The Angel With the Censer 


2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before 
38 God, and seven trumpets were given them. And 


695 


REVELATION 8 


another angel came and stood at the altar, having 
a golden censer, and a great quantity of incense was 
given him to mingle with the prayers of all the 
saints upon the golden altar, which was before the 
4 throne.. And the smoke of the incense, with the 
prayers of the saints, rose up from the hand of the 
5 angel into the presence of God. Then the angel 
took the censer, and he filled it with fire from 
the altar, and poured it upon the earth; and there 
followed thunders and voices and lightnings and an 
6 earthquake. And the seven angels with the seven 
trumpets prepared to blow their trumpets. 


The First Trumpet: Judgment on Earth 


7 And the first angel blew his trumpet, and there 
followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and it 
fell upon the earth; and the third part of the earth 
was burned up, and the third part of the trees, and 
all the green grass. 


Second Trumpet: Judgment on the Sea 


8 And the second angel blew his trumpet, and some- 
thing like a great mountain burning with fire was 
hurled into the sea; and a third part of the sea 

9 became blood; and a third part of the living crea- 
tures in the sea died, and the third part of the 
ships were destroyed. 


Third Trumpet: Judgment on Rivers and Springs 


10 And the third angel blew his trumpet, and there 
fell from heaven a great star, blazing like a torch. 
It fell upon a third of the rivers and upon the 
springs. (The name of the star is called Worm- 

11 wood.) <A third part of the waters became worm- 
wood; and many men died of the waters, because 
they were made bitter. 


Fourth Trumpet: Judgment on Sun and Stars 

12 And the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and the 
third part of the sun was blasted, and a third part 
of the moon, and a third part of the stars; so 
that the third part of them should be darkened, and 


696 


13 


1 


i 


REVELATION 9 


for a third part of the day there was no light, and 
at night it was the same. 
And I looked and I heard a solitary eagle flying 
in mid-heaven, and crying with a loud voice, 
“Woe, woe, woe for all who live on the earth, 
Because of the rest of the trumpet-blasts 
That the three angels are about to blow! ” 


IX 
PLAGUES FROM THE PIT 


THE THIRD VISION CONTINUED 


Fifth Trumpet: Judgment From the Pit 


Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw 
a star fallen from heaven upon the earth; and to 
him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And 
he opened the bottomless pit, and out of the pit 
there went up a smoke like the smoke of a great 
furnace. And the sun and the air grew dark, be- 
cause of the smoke out of the pit. And out of the 
smoke came locusts upon the earth; they were given 
power like that of scorpions on the earth. They 
were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor 
any plant, nor any tree, but only those who have 
not the seal of God on their foreheads. Yet they 
were not permitted to kill them, but only to torture 
them for five months. Their torture was like the 
torture of a scorpion, when it stings a man. In 
those days men will seek death, and will not find 
it; they will long to die, but death ever flees from 
them. 


Appearance of the Locusts 


The appearance of the locusts was like horses 
equipped for battle. On their heads there was 
something like crowns of gold, and their faces were 
like men’s faces, and they had hair like the hair 
of women, and their teeth were like lion’s teeth, 
and they had breastplates something like breast- 


697 


REVELATION 9 


plates of iron; and the noise of their wings was 

like the noise of chariots, of many horses rushing 
10 into battle. And they have tails like scorpions, and 

stings, and their power to torture men five months 
11 was in their tails. They have a king over them, 

the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in He- 

brew is Abaddon; in Greek he is called Apollyon. 
12 “The first woe has passed; 

and still there are two woes to follow.” 


Sixth Trumpet: The Curse of the Horsemen 


18 Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet; and I 
heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar 
14 which is before God, one saying to the sixth angel 
that had the trumpet, 
“Loose the four angels which are bound at the 
great river Euphrates.” 
15 Then the four angels that were held in readiness 
for that hour and day and month and year, were 
16 let loose, to destroy a third of mankind. The num- 
ber of the hosts of the horsemen was twice ten 
thousand times ten thousand. I heard their num- 
17 ber; and thus I saw the horses in the vision and 
their riders. They had breastplates of fire, “red as 
fire, dark blue as jacinth, and yellow as sulphur.” * 
The heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, 
and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke 
18 and brimstone. By these three plagues a third of 
mankind were killed; by the fire and the smoke and 
19 the brimstone which issued from their mouths. For 
the power of the horses is in their mouths and in 
their tails. For their tails are like serpents with 
20 heads, and with them they work woe. And the 
rest of mankind who were not killed with these 
plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands. 
They would not give up the worship of demons and 
of idols made of gold and silver, and brass, and 
stone, and wood, which can neither see, nor hear, 
21 nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders, 
nor of their sorceries, nor of their immorality, nor — 
of their thefts. 


1 Moffatt’s translation. 


698 


1 


On 


REVELATION 10 


x 
JUDGMENT SEALED UP 


THE THIRD VISION CONTINUED 


Judgment Sealed Up 


And I saw another mighty angel coming down 
out of heaven, clad with a cloud; and a rainbow 
was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, 
and his feet like pillars of fire. In his hand he 
had a little book, open; and he set his right foot 
upon the sea, and his left upon the land. With a 
great voice he shouted as a lion roars; and when 
he shouted, the seven thunders uttered their voices. 
When the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was 
about to write; but I heard a voice from the sky, 
saying, . 

“ Seal up the words which the seven thunders 
uttered, and write them not.” 


The Unrepealable Purpose of God 


And the angel whom I had seen standing upon 
the sea and upon the land lifted up his right hand 
to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever 
and ever, who created the heaven and all. that 
is in it, and the earth and all that is in it, and the 
sea und all that is in it, 

“Delay there shall be no more, but in the days of 
the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about 
to blow his trumpet, then shall there be finished the 
mystery of God, according to the Good News which 
he told unto his slaves, the prophets.” 


The Mystery of Prophecy 


And the voice which I had heard from heaven, I 
heard again, speaking to me, and saying, 

“‘ Go, take the little book that is open in the hand 
of the angel who stands upon the sea and upon the 
land.” 

And I went to the angel and told him to give me 
the little book. And he said to me: 


699 


REVELATION 11 


“Take it, and eat it up; it will make your belly 
bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as 
honey.” 

10 I took the little book out of the hand of the angel, 
and ate it up, and it was in my mouth sweet like 
honey; but when I had eaten it, my belly was made 

11 bitter. Then I was told, 

“You must prophesy again over many peoples 
and nations and tongues and kings.” 


XI 


THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD BECOME 
THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST 


THE THIRD VISION CONTINUED 


A Composite Vision Drawn from Ancient Prophecies 


1 And there was given me a reed like to a rod,! and 
a voice said to me: 
“Go and measure the temple of God, and the 
2 altar, and those who are worshiping therein. But 
the court which is outside the temple, omit,? and do 
not measure that, for it has been given up to the 
Gentiles, and they shall tread under foot the Holy 
-8 City for forty and two months. And I will give 
power to my two witnesses, and clothed in sack- 
cloth they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred 
and threescore days. 


The Two Witnesses 
4 “These are the two olive trees,’ and the two can- 
dlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 
5 When any one wishes to hurt them, fire comes from 
their mouth and devours their enemies; * and if any 
man wishes to hurt them, in this manner he must 
6 be killed. These have power to shut heaven so that 
it does not rain in the days of their prophecy; * and 
have power over waters to turn them to blood, and 
to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as 
they will. 
1Hzek. 40 : 3. 8Zechs4': 3! oP Kings 17: I, 
2 Ezek, 40 : 17-20. 4Jer. 5: 10! 


700 


i 


10 


ABE 


12 


13 


14 


15 


16 
17 


REVELATION 11 


The Beast Shall Fight and Kill Them 


‘And when they shall have finished their testi- 
mony, the beast that is coming up out of the bot- 
tomless pit will make war with them, and overcome 
them, and kill them. And their dead bodies le in 
the streets of the great city whose mystical name is 
‘Sodom’ and ‘ Egypt ’—where also their Lord was 
crucified. For three days and a half men of all 
peoples, and tribes, and languages, and nations, 
look upon their dead bodies, and refuse to let their 
dead bodies be laid in a tomb. 


Mocked and Scorned, They Shall Rise 


“And those who dwell on the earth are rejoicing 
over them, and making merry; and they will send 
gifts to one another; because these two prophets 
were a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 
And after three days and a half the breath of life 
from God entered into them, and they stood on their 
feet,’ and great fear fell upon those who saw them. 
And they heard a great voice from heaven saying 
unto them, 

“Come up hither,” 
and they went up to heaven on a cloud, while their 
enemies watched them. And in that hour there 
was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the 
city fell; and there were killed in the earthquake 
seven thousand persons; and the rest were fright- 
ened and gave glory to the God of heaven. 

“The second woe is passed; and there is a third 
woe soon to follow.” 


Seventh Trumpet 


And the seventh angel blew his trumpet; and 
there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, 

“THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD ARE BECOME THE 
KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND OF HIS CHRIST, AND HE 
WILL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER.” 

Then the four and twenty Elders who are seated 
before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces 
and worshiped God, saying: 


6 Hzek, 37 : 5. 
701 


18 


19 


1 
2 
SS) 


t 


REVELATION 12 


“We give thee thanks, O Lord God, 

The Almighty, who art. and who wast; 

For thou hast taken thy great power, 

And begun to reign. 

The nations raged, and thy wrath came, 

And the time for the dead to be judged; 

The time for rewarding thy slaves, the prophets 

And the saints, and those who reverence thy name, 

Both small and great; 

And the time to destroy those who are destroying 

the earth.” 

Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, 
and the ark of his covenant was seen inside his 
sanctuary; and there followed lightnings and voices 
and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail. 


XII 


IV. THE VISION OF THE SEVEN SYMBOLIC 
FIGURES 


1. The Woman Clothed with the Sun 


And a great sign was seen in heaven; a woman 
clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, 
and upon her head a diadem of twelve stars. She 
was with child; and she cried out, travailing in 
birth, in anguish to be delivered.. And another sign 
was seen in heaven; and lo, a great red dragon, 
with seven heads and ten horns, and upon his head 
seven diadems. His tail drew a third part of the 
stars of the sky, and dashed them down to the 
earth. And the dragon stood before the woman 
about to be delivered, so that he might devour her 
child when she was delivered. And she gave birth 
to a son, a man child, who is to shepherd all the 
nations with a rod of iron; and her child was 
caught up unto God and unto his throne. And the 
woman fled into the desert, where she has a place 
prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished 
for a thousand two hundred and threescore days. 


702 


< 


8 
9 


10 


11 


12 


15 


14 


15 


16 


17 


REVELATION 12 


2. Michael and the Dragon 


And there was war in heaven. Michael and his 
angels went forth to war with the dragon; and the 
dragon also fought, and his angels; but they failed, 
nor was their place found any more in heaven. Now 
the great dragon was thrown down—that old Ser- 
pent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the 
deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down 
to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with 
him. And I heard a great voice in heaven, which 
said: 

“ Now it is come! the salvation and the power, 
The kingdom of our God, and the authority of his 
Christ! 

For the accuser of our brethren is thrown down, 

Who accused them before our God, day and night. 

And they have conquered him by the blood of the 

Lamb, 

And by the word of their testimony; 

And they loved not their life, even unto death. 

Therefore rejoice, O heavens, 

And you who dwell therein! 

Woe to the earth and the sea! 

For the devil has gone down to you in great fury, 

Because he knows that he has but little time.” 


3. The Woman Pursued by the Dragon 


When the dragon saw that he was hurled down 
to the earth, he pursued the woman who gave birth 
to the man child. But the woman was given the 
two wings of the great eagle, so that she might fly 
into the desert to her place where she is nourished 
for a time, and times, and half a time, from the 
face of the serpent. And the serpent poured water 
from his mouth after the woman, water like a river, 
so that he might cause her to be carried off by the 
stream. But the earth came to the rescue of the 
woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swal- 
lowed up the river that the dragon had poured 
forth from his mouth. And the dragon was enraged 
at the woman, and went away to make war upon 
the rest of her children who keep the command- 


703 


co oOo 


REVELATION 13 


ments of God, and hold fast the testimony of Jesus. 
And he stood upon the sand of the sea. 


XIII 
TWO MYSTERIOUS BEASTS 
FOURTH VISION CONTINUED 


4. The Beast from the Sea Wars with the Saints 


Then I saw rising up out of the sea a beast who 
had ten horns and seven heads. On his horns he 
had ten diadems, and on his heads blasphemous 
titles. The beast I saw was like a leopard, and his 
feet were bear’s feet, and his mouth a lion’s mouth. 
The dragon gave him his power and his throne and 
great authority. And I saw that one of his heads 
seemed to have been mortally wounded, but its 
deadly wound had been healed. The whole earth 
was following the beast, wondering. Men wor- 
shiped the dragon because he gave his authority to 
the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying: 

“Who is like the beast? Who can fight with 

him? ” 
And he was permitted to utter loud boasts and 
blasphemies; and there was given to him authority 
to continue forty-two months. So he opened his 
mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his 
name and his tabernacle (those who live in his 
tabernacle in heaven). The beast was allowed to 
wage war upon the saints, and to conquer them; 
and there was given him authority over every tribe 
and people and tongue and nation; and each one 
whose name has not been written in the Lamb’s 
book of life, the Lamb who has been slain from 
the foundation of the world. All who dwell on the 
earth shall worship him. 


A Warning for the Initiated 


Let him who has ears to hear, listen. 
Whoever is destined to go into captivity, goes into 
captivity. Whoever shall kill with the sword, shall 


704 


11 
12 


13 
14 


15 


16 


Li. 


18 


1 


REVELATION 14 


surely be killed by the sword. (Here is the endur- 
ance and faith of the saints.) 


5. Another Mysterious Beast 


And I saw another beast ascending from the land; 
and he had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke 
like a dragon; and he exerts the full authority of 
the first beast before him, and he makes the earth 
and its inhabitants worship the first beast whose 
death-stroke was healed. And he performs great 
miracles, so that he even causes fire to come down 
to the earth from the sky, before men’s eyes. And 
he deceives those who dwell on the earth, because of 
the miracles, which he is permitted to perform in 
the sight of the beast. He tells those who live on 
the earth to make an image to the beast who had 
the sword-stroke, yet lived. And he was permitted 
to give breath to the image of the beast, so that 
the image of the beast should speak; and so that 
any one who would not worship the image of the 
beast should be put to death. And he makes all 
men, low and high, rich and poor, freemen and 
slaves, to have a brand put upon their right hands 
or upon their brows, so that no one can buy or sell 
unless he has the brand of the beast, or the number 
of his name. 


A Cipher 


Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding 
count the number of the beast; for it is the number 
of a man; and his number is 666. 


XIV 
THE EARTH IS REAPED 


FOURTH VISION CONTINUED 


6. The Followers of the Lamb 


And I looked, and lo, there was the Lamb stand- 
ing on Mount Zion, and with him were a hundred 
and forty and four thousand who had his name 


705 


6 


10 


REVELATION 14 


and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 
And I heard a voice from heaven like the voice of 
many waters, and the voice of a great thunder; 
and J heard the voice of harpers harping on their 
harps. They were singing a new song before the 
throne,-and before the four Living Creatures and 
the Elders; and none can learn that song, except 
the one hundred and forty and four thousand, who 
had been redeemed from the earth. These are they 
who were not defiled with women; for they are 
celibates. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. 
They have been redeemed from among men to be the 
first-fruits unto God and the Lamb. No lie was 
ever found on their lips; they are spotless. 


7. Fly Abroad, Thou Mighty Gospel 


Then I saw another angel who was flying in mid- 
heaven. He had an eternal evangel, to evangelize 
all the dwellers on the earth, of every nation and 
tribe and tongue and people. And he cried with 
a loud voice: 

“Fear God and give him glory, 

Because the hour of his judgment is come: 
And worship Him who made the heavens and the 
earth ) 
And the sea and springs of waters.” 
Then a second angel followed, crying, 

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great, 

Who has made all the nations drink the wine 
Of the frenzy of her fornication.” 

And another angel, a third, followed them, crying 
with a mighty voice: 

“Whoever worships the beast and his image, 

And receives a brand on his forehead or on his 

hand, 

He also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of 

God, 

Poured out unmixed in the cup of his anger; 

And he shall be tormented with fire and brim- 

stone 

In the presence of the holy angels, 

And in the presence of the Lamb. 


706 


REVELATION 14 


11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever 
and ever; 
And they have no rest day or night, 
Who worship the beast and his image, 
And all who receive the brand of his name.” 
12 Here is the endurance of the saints, those who keep 
the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 


The Second Beatitude 


13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, 
“ Write, Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord 
from henceforth! 
Yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from 
their labors, 
For their deeds do follow them.” 


8. Angel Reapers 


14. And I looked, and lo, a white cloud; and on the 
cloud I saw One sitting like to a son of man, with 
a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in 

15 his hand. And another angel came out of the 
temple, shouting with a loud voice to him who sat 
on the cloud: 

“ Thrust in your sickle, and reap; for the time to 
reap is come. The harvest of the earth is overripe.” 

16 And he who sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle 
upon the earth; and the earth was reaped. 

17 And another angel came out of the temple which 

18 is in heaven, and he, too, had a sharp sickle. And 
another angel came from the altar, the angel who 
has power over fire, and he called with a loud voice 
to the one who had the sharp sickle, saying, 
‘Thrust in your sharp sickle, 

And gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, 
For its grapes are fully ripe.” 

19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and 
gathered the clusters of the vine of the earth, and 
threw them into the winepress, the great winepress 

20 of the wrath of God. And the winepress was 
trodden outside the city, and blood gushed out of 
the winepress, even to the bridles of the horses, as 
far as two hundred miles. 


- 107 


REVELATION 15 
XV 


V. THE VISION OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN 
BOWLS, WITH THEIR SEVEN PLAGUES 


Seven Angels with Seven Plagues 


1 And I beheld another sign in heaven, great and 
marvelous, seven angels with the seven last plagues; 
because with them the wrath of God is finished. 


Interlude: The Song of Moses and the Lamb 


2 And I saw the semblance of a glassy sea, mingled 
with fire; and standing by this glassy sea, with 
harps of God, were those who came off conquerors 
from the beast and from his image and from the 

3 cipher of his name. They were singing the song 
of Moses, the slave of God, and the song of the 
Lamb, saying: 

“Great and marvelous are thy works, 
O Lord God, the Almighty! 
Righteous and true are thy ways, 
Thou King of kings! 
4 Who shall not fear, O Lord, 
And glorify thy name? 
For thou only art holy. 
For all the nations shall come and worship before 
thee; 
For thy righteous acts have been made evident.” 


Appearance of the Seven Angels 


5 After that I looked, and the sanctuary of the 

6 tabernacle of testimony was opened in heaven; and 
there came out of the sanctuary the seven angels 
with the seven plagues. They were clothed in white 
linen, pure and bright, and girt about the breasts 

7 with golden girdles. And one of the four Living 
Creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden 
bowls, full of the wrath of God, who lives forever 

8 and ever. The sanctuary was filled with smoke 
from the glory and majesty of God; and no one 
could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues 
of the seven angels were finished. 


708 


REVELATION 16 


XVI 


EMPTYING THE VIALS OF THE WRATH 
OF GOD 


FIFTH VISION CONTINUED 


The First Bowl Is Emptied on the Earth 


1 Then I heard a loud voice which came out of the 
temple, saying to the seven angels, 

“Go, empty the seven bowls of the wrath of God 
upon the earth.” 

2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl 
upon the earth. And it was turned to loathsome 
and painful sores upon all who bore the brand of 
the beast, and who worshiped his image. 


The Second Bowl Is Emptied on the Sea 


8 And the second angel poured out his bowl upon 
the sea; and it became blood, like the blood of a 
corpse, and every living creature died—everything 
in the sea. 


The Third Bowl Is Emptied on Rivers and Springs 


4 And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers 
and springs of waters; and they were turned into 
5 blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying: 
“ Righteous art thou, thou who art and wast, 
The Holy One, 
Because thou didst inflict this judgment. 
6 For men poured out the blood of thy saints and 
prophets, 
And thou hast given them blood to drink. 
And this they deserved.” 
7 And I heard the altar saying, 
“ Yea, O Lord, the Almighty, 
True and righteous are thy judgments.” 


The Fourth Bowl Emptied on the Sun 
8 And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon 
the sun, and the sun was permitted to scorch men 


709 


REVELATION 16 


9 with fire. And men were scorched with the terrible 
heat; and they blasphemed the name of the God 
who had the power over these plagues; yet they 
repented not, to give him glory. 


The Fifth*Bowl Emptied Upon the Throne of the Beast 


10 And the fifth poured out his bowl upon the 
throne of the beast; and his kingdom became dark- 
11 ened, and men gnawed their tongues for pain, and 
they blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their 
pains and their sores; yet of their deeds they did 
not repent. ; 


The Sixth Bowl Emptied Upon the Euphrates 


12 And the sixth poured his bowl upon the great 
river, the River Euphrates, and its water was dried 
up so as to make ready the way for the kings that 

13 come from the sunrising. And I saw three unclean 
spirits, like frogs, coming out of the dragon’s mouth, 
and the beast’s mouth, and the false prophet’s mouth. 

14 For these are the spirits of demons performing 
miracles, who go forth to the kings of the habitable 
earth, to gather them together for the battle of the 
great Day of God, the Almighty. 


Dramatic Interlude: The Third Beatitude 


15. Lo, Iam coming like a thief. Blessed is the man 
who is on the watch and guarding his clothing, so 
that he may not walk naked, and they gaze on his 
shame. 

16. And the spirits gathered the kings together at 
the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. 


The Seventh Bowl Emptied Upon the Air 


17 And the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air, 
and a great voice came forth out of the temple 
from the throne, saying, 

“Tt is finished! ” 

18 And lightnings and voices and thunders and a great 
earthquake such as had not happened since man 
began to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake, 


710 


19 


20 
21 


1 


REVELATION 17 


so mighty; and the great city was shattered into 
three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and 
great Babylon came to mind before the face of 
God, to give her the cup of the wine of the passion 
of his anger. And every island fled away, and the 
mountains sank from sight. And there fell upon 
men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about 
the weight of a talent; and men blasphemed God be- 
cause of the plague of the hail, for the plague of it 
is very great. 


XVII 
THE MYSTERY OF BABYLON 


FIFTH VISION CONTINUED 


Vision of the Great Harlot 


And there came one of the seven angels who had 
the seven bowls, and spoke tu me, saying, 

“Come hither and I will show you the sentence 
passed upon the great harlot who sits on many 
waters, with whom the kings of the earth have 
committed adultery, while all who live on the earth 
have been made drunken by the wine of her im- 
morality.” 

And he bore me away in the Spirit into the desert, 
and I saw a woman who sat upon a scarlet beast 
covered with blasphemous names. It had seven 
heads and ten horns. The woman was enwrapped 
in purple and scarlet and was encrusted with gold 
and precious stones and pearls. In her hand she 
held a golden cup filled with abominations, even 
the impurities of her immorality. Upon her fore- 
head a name was written, a mystery, 

“BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, 

AND ABOMINABLE THINGS OF THE EARTH.” 

And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of 
the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of 
Jesus, and I wondered with a great wonder. 


711 


7 


10 


12 


13 


14 


15 


16 


17 


18 


REVELATION 17 


Explanation of the Vision 

And the angel said to me: 

“Why did you wonder? I will explain to you 
the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with 
the seven heads and ten horns, that carried her. 
The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is 
about to come up out of the bottomless pit, and to 
go into perdition. And those who dwell on the 
earth shall wonder, those whose names have never, 
from the foundation of the world, been written in 
the Lamb’s Book of Life, when they gaze on the 
beast; how he was, and is not, and is to come. 
Here is the mind that has wisdom: the seven heads 
are seven hills on which the woman is seated; 
and they are seven kings; the five have fallen, one 
is, the other is not yet come (and when he does 
come, he must remain a short time). And the beast 
who was, but is not, is himself also an eighth, al- 
though he is one of the seven kings, and is on his 
way to perdition. 

“The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who 
have not yet received their kingdoms; but they have 
received authority as kings for one hour, together 
with the beast. These kings have one mind, and 
they give their power and authority to the beast. 
These will make war against the Lamb, and the 
Lamb will conquer them, for he is the Lord ot 
lords, and King of kings. And they who are with 
him are called and faithful and chosen.” 

And he also said to me: 

“ The waters which you saw, on which the harlot 
takes her seat, are peoples and multitudes and 
nations and tongues. And the ten horns which you 
saw, they and the beast will hate the harlot and 
make her desolate and naked, and will eat her 
flesh and burn her up with fire. For God has put 
it into their hearts to execute his purpose, in execut- 
ing their common purpose, and by giving over their 
kingdoms to the beast, until the words of God 
shall be accomplished. The woman whom you saw 
is the great city which holds sway over the kings 
of the earth.” 


712 


REVELATION 18 


XVIII 
A THRENODY FOR FALLEN BABYLON 


FIFTH VISION CONTINUED 


Day of Judgment for Babylon 


1 After this I saw another angel coming down from 
heaven, who had great authority; and the earth was 
2 illumined by his glory. He shouted with a mighty 
cry, saying: 
“ She is fallen! She is fallen, Babylon the great! 
Now she is a dwelling-place of demons, 
A stronghold of every foul spirit, 
A stronghold of every foul and hateful bird. 
8 For all nations, having drunk the wine of the 
frenzy of her fornication, are fallen; 
And the kings of the earth have committed for- 
nication with her, 
And the merchants of the earth have grown rich 
by the power of her wantonness.”’ 


God’s Saints Called to Go Out 


4 And behold I heard another voice from heaven 
saying: 
“Come out of her, that you have no fellowship with 
her sins, 
And that you receive not her plagues. 
5 For her sins have been heaped to heaven, 
And God has remembered her iniquities. 
6 Render to her what she rendered; 
Yes, pay double what her deeds deserve. 
In the cup she mixed, mix double for her. 
7 By so much as she glorified herself and waxed 
wanton, 
By so much give her of torture and tears, 
For she says in her heart, 
‘I sit here a queen, I am no widow. 
I shall in no wise see mourning.’ 
8 Therefore in one day shall these plagues come 
upon her, 
Death and mourning and famine, 
And she shall be burnt with fire ; 


713 


10 


REVELATION 18 


For mighty is the Lord God, her judge. 

And the kings of the earth who committed for- 
nication 

And lived wantonly with her, 

Will weep and wail over her, 

Wher they behold the smoke of her burning, 

Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, 
saying, 

‘Woe, woe, the great city Babylon, the strong 
city! 

In one hour is your judgment come!’ 


The Lament of the Kings and the Merchants 


11 “And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn 


12 


13 


14 


15 


over her, 

For no one buys their merchandise any more— 

Merchandise of gold and silver and precious 
stones, 

Of pearls, and fine linen, and purple and silk and 
scarlet; 

All citron wood, and vessels of ivory, - 

And vessels of rare wood and brass and iron and 
marble; 

Cinnamon and balsam and spices and myrrh and 
frankincense; 

Wine and oil and fine flour and wheat; 

Cattle and sheep, and horses and chariots, 

And slaves,’ and the souls of men. 

And the fruits which your soul lusted for are 
gone from you, 

And all things that were dainty and sumptuous 
are perished from you, 

And men shall find them nevermore. _ 

“ The traders in those things, who were enriched 


by her, shall stand afar off for fear of her torment, 


16 weeping and mourning, saying: 


““ Woe, woe, the great city! 


She who was clothed in fine linen and purple and 
scarlet, 


1The word céue, “body,” is commonly used as a term 


meaning ‘ slave.” That seems to be its force here. 


714 


REVELATION 18 


And adorned with gold and precious stones and 
pearls! 
17. In one hour so great riches is made desolate! ’ 
And every shipmaster and every one who sails to 
any port, 
And sailors, and all seafaring folk, 
18 Stood at a distance, and as they saw the smoke 
from the burning city, cried, 
“< What city can compare with the great city?’ 
19 And they threw dust on their heads, and cried out, 
Weeping and mourning, saying, 
‘“¢ Woe, woe, the great city, 
In which all who have ships on the sea 
Grew rich through her luxury! 
For in one hour she is made desolate!’ ” 


Echo of Exultation 
20 Rejoice over her, O Heaven! 
Rejoice, ye saints, apostles, prophets! 
For God has now avenged you. ! 


The Angel with the Millstone 
21 Then a mighty angel lifted a boulder like a great 
millstone, and hurled it into the sea, saying, 
‘So shall Babylon, the great city, be overthrown 
with a mighty fall, 
And shall be found no more at all. 
22 No more shall the voice of harpers and minstrels, 
flute-players and trumpeters 
Be heard in you. 
No more shall any craftsman of any craft 
Be found at all in you. 
No more shall the sound of a millstone be heard 
at all in you. 
23 No light of a lamp shall ever shine in you again; 
And in you shall the voice of the bridegroom and 
of the bride be heard no more. 
For your merchants were the princes of the earth; 
And with your sorcery were all the nations de- 
ceived; 
24 And in you was found the blood of prophets and 
of saints, 
And of all who have been slain upon the earth.” 


715 


REVELATION 19 


XIX 
VI. THE BEATIFIC VISION 


Chant of Victory 


1 After this I heard the semblance of the mighty 
voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying: 
“ Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power 
Unto the Lord our God! 
2 For true and righteous are his judgments; 
For he has judged the great harlot 
Who was corrupting the earth with her fornica- 
tion. 
On her he has avenged the blood of his slaves.” 
3 And a second time they said: 
“ Allelulia! 
For the smoke of her torment goes up forever 
and ever! ” 

4 Then the four and twenty Elders and the four 
beasts fell down and worshiped God who sits on the 
throne, saying, 

“Amen, Hallelujah! ” 


The Hymns of Innumerable Multitudes 


5 And a voice came forth from the throne, saying, 
“Praise our God, all you his slaves, 
All you who fear him, small and great!” 

6 And I heard a sound like the voice of a great 
multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and 
like the voice of mighty thunderings, saying: 

“ Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigns! 
7 Let us rejoice and triumph and give him the 
glory; | 
For the marriage of the Lamb is come, 
And his bride has made herself ready, 
8 And it has been granted to her to array herself 
in fine linen, bright and pure; 
For the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the 
saints.” 


716 


g 


10 


11 


12 


13 


14 
15 


16 


17 


18 


REVELATION 19 


The Fourth Beatitude 


And he said to me, Write, 

‘Blessed are those who have been bidden to the 
marriage supper of the Lamb.” 

And he said to me, “These are true words of 
God.” And I fell down at his feet to worship him, 
and he said to me: 

“ See that you do it not. I am a fellow slave of 
yours and of your brothers who hold the testimony 
of Jesus; for the testimony of Jesus is the vital 
breath of prophecy.” 


First Symbol: The Word of God Goes Forth Conquering 
and to Conquer 

And I saw heaven opened, and lo! a white horse; 
and he who sat upon him was named “ Faithful 
and True”; and in righteousness does he judge and 
make war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon 
his head are many diadems; and he has a name 
written, which none knows but himself. He is 
clothed in a vesture dipped in blood; and his name 
is called, 

THE WORD OF GOD 


And the armies of heaven followed him upon white 
horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure. And 
there issues from his lips a sharp sword with which 
to smite the nations. He shall shepherd them with 
a rod of iron. And he treads the winepress of the 
passion of the anger of Almighty God. And on his 
robe and on his thigh he has a name written, 


KING oF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS 


Second: The Birds Come Flying 


And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who 
shouted in a loud voice to all the birds that fly in 
mid-heaven, 

“Come, gather yourselves together to the great 
supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh 
of generals, the flesh of horses and their riders, 
and the flesh of all men, bond and free, small and 
great.” 


717 


REVELATION 20 


Third: The Beast Cast Into the Lake of Fire 


19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth 
and their armies gathered together to make war on 

20 him who sat on the horse and on his army. And 
the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet 
who performed miracles in his presence to deceive 
those who had received the brand of the beast, and 
those who worshiped his image. The two were 
thrown alive into the lake of. fire, blazing with 

21 brimstone. And the rest were slain with the sword 
of him who sat on the horse, that sword which 
issued from his lips. And all the birds gorged 
themselves with their flesh. 


XX 


THE DRAGON BOUND AND THE GREAT 
WHITE THRONE 


SIXTH VISION CONTINUED 


Fourth: The Dragon bound 


1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, 
with the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain 

2 in his hand. He gripped the dragon, that old ser- 
pent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him 

3 for a thousand years, and flung him into the bot- 
tomless pit, and shut and sealed it over him, so that 
he should seduce the nations no more, until the 
thousand years were completed. After that it is 
necessary to loose him for a little while. 


Fifth: Living and Reigning with Christ for a Thousand 
Years 


4 And I saw thrones, and those who sat on them, and 
they were permitted to judge; and I saw the souls 
of those who had been beheaded for the testimony 
of Jesus, and for the Word of God, those who did 
not worship the beast nor his image, and who did 
not receive his brand upon their brow, or hands. 
And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thou- 


718 


REVELATION 20 


5 sand years. The rest of the dead did not live until 
the thousand years were completed. 
This is the first resurrection. 


Fifth Beatitude 


6 Blessed and holy is he who has a part in the first 
resurrection; on such the second death has no power, 
but they will be God’s priests, and Christ’s; and 
will reign with him for a thousand years. 


Sixth: The Loosing of Satan 


7 And when the thousand years have been com- 
8 pleted, Satan will be loosed out of his prison, and 
will go forth to seduce the nations which are in 
the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, 
to marshal them for war—their number is like the 
9 sands of the sea. And they went up over the 
broad earth, and surrounded the encampment of the 
saints, and the beloved city. Then fire fell from 
10 the sky and consumed them; and the devil who had 
been deceiving them was hurled into the lake of 
fire and brimstone, where lie also the beast and the 
false prophet. And they will be tortured day and 
night, forever and ever. 


Seventh: The Great White Throne 


11 And I saw a great white throne, and One who sat 
thereon; from his presence fled earth and sky, and 

12 no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, 
great and small, standing before the throne; and 
books were opened, and another book—the Book 
of Life—was opened; and the dead were judged 
according to their deeds, by what was written in the 

18 books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it. 
Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in 

14 them. And all were judged according to their deeds. 
And Death and Hades were hurled into the lake of 
fire. 

This is the second death, the lake of fire. 

15 And if any one was found who was not written 
in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake 
of fire. 


719 


REVELATION 21 


XXI 


VII. THE VISION OF THE NEW 
JERUSALEM 


A New Heaven and a New Earth 


1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for 
the first heaven and the first earth were passed 
2 away; and the sea is no more. And I saw the 
Holy City, the New Jerusalem, descending out of 
heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned 
3 for her husband. And I heard a loud voice out of 
the throne, crying: 
“ Behold, God’s tent is with men, 
And he will tent with them, 
And they will be his peoples. 
And God himself will be with them, 
4 And he will wipe away every tear from their eyes. 
Death will be no more, 
Nor will there be mourning, 
Nor crying, nor pain any more. 
Because the first things have passed away.” 
5 And He who sat on the throne said, 
“Behold, I,am making all things new.” 
And He said to me, “ Write this, for these words 
are trustworthy and genuine.” 
6 He also said: 
“It has now come to pass. 
I am the Alpha and the Omega, 
The Beginning and the End. 
To him who thirsts I will freely give 
Of the spring of the Water of Life. 
7 He who overcomes will inherit these, 
And I will be his God, 
And he shall be my son. 
8 But as for the cowards, the faithless, the abomin- 
able, 
And as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, 
Idolaters, and all liars, 
Their part will be in the lake that blazes 
with fire and brimstone. 
“This is the second death.” 


720 


9 


10 


11 


12 


13 


14 


15 
16 


Ls 
18 


19 


20 


21 


REVELATION 21 


The New Jerusalem 


And there came to me one of the seven angels 
who had the seven bowls filled with the last plagues, 
and he spoke to me, saying: 

“ Come hither! I will show you the bride, the 
Lamb’s wife.” And he carried me away in the 
Spirit to a mountain, huge and high; and he showed 
me the Holy City, Jerusalem, descending out of 
heaven from God. It had the glory of God. Its 
light was like some precious stone, like jasper, clear 
as erystal; with a wall great and high, and twelve 
gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names 
written thereon, the names of the twelve tribes of 
the children of Israel. On the east were three 
gates; and on the north, three gates; and on the 
south, three gates; and on the west, three gates. 
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, 
and on them were the twelve names of the twelve 
apostles of the Lamb. 


Measurements of the City 


And he who spoke had a golden reed, as a mea- 
sure, to measure the city and its gates and walls. 
And the city lies foursquare; the length of it is as 
great as the breadth. Then he measured the city 
with the reed, fifteen hundred miles; the length and 
the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he 
measured its wall, two hundred and sixteen feet, 
man’s measure, which is an angel’s. And its wall 
is made of jasper; but the city is of pure gold, like 
pure glass. The foundations of the wall of the city 
were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The 
first foundation-stone was jasper, the second sap- 
phire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the 
fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chryso- 
lite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth 
chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth ame- 
thyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; 
each gate of one pearl. And the broad street of the 
city was of pure gold, transparent like glass. 


721 


REVELATION 22 


Jerusalem the Golden 


22 And I saw no temple in the city; 
For the temple is the Lord God, the Almighty, 
And the Lamb. 
23 And the city has no need of the sun, 
Nor of the moon, to shine upon it; 
For the glory of God has lightened it, 
And its lamp is the Lamb. 
24 And the nations will walk by its light. 
And into it the kings of the earth will bring their 
glory; 
25 And its gates will not be shut by day, 
(For there is no night there) ; 
26 And they will bring the glory and honor 
Of the nations into it. 
27 There will not enter it anything profane, 
Nor any who work abominations and a lie $ 
But only those who are written 
In the Lamb’s Book of Life. 


XXII 
FOR THEE, O DEAR, DEAR COUNTRY 
SEVENTH VISION CONCLUDED 


The River of Life 


1 And he showed me the river of the Water of Life, 
clear as crystal, 
Flowing out from the throne of God, and of the 
Lamb, | 
2 In the middle of the broad street of the City. 
On each side of the river was a Tree of Life, 
Bearing twelve kinds of fruit, 
Each month yielding its own fruit. 
And the leaves of the tree 
Were for the healing of the nations. 
3 And there will be no more curse 


722 


REVELATION 22 


But in it will be the throne of God and of the Lamb. 
4 And his slaves will serve and worship him. 

They will see his face. 

His name will be on their foreheads. 
5 Night will be no more. 

They will need no lamplight nor sunlight, 

Because the Lord God will give them light; 

And they will reign forever and ever. 


EPILOGUE 
SEVEN LAST WORDS 


6 Then he said to me: 

“These words may be trusted, and are true: 
the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has 
sent his angel to show his slaves what must soon 
take place. 


Sixth Beatitude 


7 And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is 
he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this 
book.” 

8 And I, John, am he who heard and saw these 
things. And after I heard and saw them, I fell 
down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed 

9 them to me. But he said to me: 

“ See thou do it not: I am only a fellow slave 
with you and your brothers, the prophets, and with 
those who keep the words of this Book: 


“WORSHIP GoD! ” 
10 And he said to me, 


The Permanence of Character 


“Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this 
book; for the crisis is near. 
141. He who is wicked, let him be wicked still; 
He who is filthy, let him be filthy still; 
He who is righteous, let him practise righteous- 
ness still; 


723 


REVELATION 22 


And he who is holy, let him be made holy still. 
12 Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, 
To give to each man what his actions merit. 
13 Iam the Alpha and the Omega, 
The First and the Last, 
The Beginning and the End. 


Seventh Beatitude 


{4 “Blessed are they who wash their robes, so that 
they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may 

15 enter in by the gates into the City. Without are 
the dogs, the sorcerers, the immoral, the murderers, 
the idolaters, and all who love and make a lie. 


Jesus Speaks 


16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this 
testimony for the churches. I am the root and 
offspring of David, the bright, the morning Star. 

17 “ And the Spirit and the Bride say ‘ Come!’ 

And let him who hears, say ‘ Come!’ 

And let him who thirsts, come; 

And whoever wills, let him take the Water of 
Life freely.” 


John Speaks 


18 I testify to every man who hears the words of 
the prophecy of this book: If any man shall add to 
them, God will add to him the plagues which are 

19 written in this book; and if any man shall take 
away from the words of the book of this prophecy, 
God will take away his share in the Tree of Life, 
and in the Holy City, about which this book is 
written. 

20 He who testifies this, says, 

* Yea, Iam coming quickly.” 
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! . 

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with the 

saints! 


724 


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